Dale agreed that he lived a rich, full life, complete with a loving family and friends, enjoying a long, successful teaching and researching career, performing a vast array of community service, and taking the opportunity to see much of the world. But oh, how we will miss him!
Born near Canton, Pennsylvania, Dale moved almost yearly as a child as his dad managed the opening of several GLF (Grain and Feed) stores in northern Pennsylvania. Dale went to six different one-room schools, overcoming a speech-impediment (lost to the ages) and often sharing the teaching and tutoring responsibilities for his classes. Some of Dale’s fondest early memories were visiting his grandfather Miller’s farm, “helping with the chores” and working with his uncle Harry, building and repairing farm buildings.
In 1949, Dale’s family settled just outside of Canton in Cedar Ledge and Dale entered the Canton Area School District. He excelled academically and athletically, especially in baseball where he played for numerous “town” teams, often as the youngest to teammate veterans from WWII, and earning his nickname: “Eagle Eye”.
In 1955, Dale graduated from Canton as Salutatorian and enrolled at Penn State University, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree and again in 1961 with a Master of Arts degree in history. In 1961, Dale began teaching (and scouting part-time for the football team) at Frostburg State Teachers College in Frostburg, Maryland, where he met his future wife Evelyn. Dale continued his studies as a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Illinois, also serving as a teaching assistant. He and Evelyn married in 1965 and she joined him in Champaign.
In 1967, Dale joined the History Department faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in Indiana, Pennsylvania. In 1969, Dale successfully defended his dissertation and earned his doctorate in medieval history from Illinois. Now tenured at IUP, he and Evelyn welcomed two wonderful sons, Kent William (1970) and Dain Charles (1974), building a life in Indiana where he and Evelyn would remain for more than thirty years. While at IUP, Dale was recognized for outstanding research, teaching and service and served a term as President of the Foundation for IUP.
An avid researcher, Dale spent a sabbatical year in England and Europe and traveled to Jordan and the middle east on archeological explorations. A prolific writer, Dale authored numerous articles and books including a series of newspaper articles about the early baseball teams in the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Mining League (with colleague George Wiley) and a pictorial history of IUP titled Our Homage and Our Love (with colleague Ron Juliette). With his colleague Irwin Marcus, Dale also founded the Historical Musings periodical. Dale twice served as the IUP faculty union (APSCUF) President and chaired APSCUF’s statewide Health and Welfare Committee. He even found time to serve as advisor to IUP’s Sigma Chi fraternity and never missed a Penn State football game for many decades.
Dale’s energy and dedication to the Indiana community led him to become the first IUP faculty member to serve as Councilman for Indiana Borough. In addition, he coached many years of little league baseball and youth soccer and helped establish the youth wrestling programs in Indiana. Many referees likely still have nightmares of his voice booming from the sidelines and stands as he watched his teams and sons compete.
Dale retired from IUP in 2000 and he and Evelyn moved from Indiana to homes in State College, Pennsylvania and Flagler Beach, Florida. In retirement, Dale remained incredibly active: teaching history courses at Penn State to non-traditional students through the OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and traveling extensively: to watch soccer’s World Cup and other games throughout Europe, baseball’s World Series and All-Star games, and countless Penn State triumphs and national championships in football, wrestling and volleyball; and to see historical sites across the globe in Europe, Asia and South America. He also joined the Senior Softball League of Flagler Beach where he played and managed teams.
Through it all, Dale remained a small-town guy who called his own shots. His was truly a life well-lived.
Dale is survived by his wife (Evelyn), sons (Kent and Dain), sister (Linda Larson) and nephew (Michael McNett).
Please join us for lunch to share memories and celebrate Dale’s life on
November 9, 2024, 12pm-1:30pm (remarks at 12:30pm) @403 S. Allen Street #307, State College, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dale’s memory for use in IUP’s Arboretum and gardens online through www.alumni.iup.edu/iupremembers (in the SELECTED DESIGNATIONS box, please include “8481-Dale Landon”) or by calling 724-357-5555.
Condolences to the family can be sent: By email to DainLandon@Gmail.com
By post to Evelyn D. Landon, 403 S. Allen Street, State College, PA 16801