Charles Dale Gribben, 92, of Boise, ID died March 29, 2010 at his Valley View residence of natural causes.
Dale was born on February 23, 1918 in Parsons, Kansas, the second of two sons, to Charles and Maude Foore Gribben. His father emigrated from Belfast, Ireland as a steam fitter and worked for the Union Pacific and Katy railroads before founding Gribben Motors in Parsons, Kansas circa 1918. Dale graduated from Parsons High School in 1935. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1939. That time began his 75+ years as a raving Kansas Jayhawk sports fan for which he served as Chairman of Southeast Kansas University Alumni Association, the KU Development Committee, and a member of the KU Williams Endowment Fund.
Following graduation, Dale worked for Sheffield Steel and Phillips Petroleum both in Kansas City until 1948. He met Louise Josephine Brockelman, an airline hostess for TWA, in 1944, and they were married in the Linwood Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri on January 20, 1945. They moved to Parsons in 1948 when he joined his retiring father, Charles, in the auto dealer business selling Buicks and other General Motors brands.
Upon returning to his hometown, Dale became very active in the business community and civic affairs serving as President of the Parsons Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, Chair of the Parsons Industrial Development Fund.
Professionally, in his nearly 30 years in the automobile business, he was President of the local new car dealers association, served on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Motor Car Dealers, and a member of the Buick and Pontiac national Motor Car Dealers Council. In retirement, Dale continued his lifelong love of his daily golf game and many travels with Louise and friends. They were members of the Parsons Wesley United Methodist church.
In 2006 they moved to Boise to be closer to their children. Dale is survived by his wife of 65 years, Louise; son, Gary (Virginia) of Boise; daughter, Patricia of Oakland, CA; and grandson, Matthew (fiancée, Haley Knowlton) of Santa Clara, CA. Dale was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Jack.
At Dale's request there will be no public memorial service. An informal Open House will be held at the home of Gary and Ginny Gribben, 2263 Bluestem Lane, Boise. Friends are welcome to join the family in remembering and celebrating Dale's life from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday evening, April 2nd. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross. These may be left at or mailed to the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home P.O. Box 374 Parsons, Kansas 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Dale Gribben, please visit our flower store.
Dale was born on February 23, 1918 in Parsons, Kansas, the second of two sons, to Charles and Maude Foore Gribben. His father emigrated from Belfast, Ireland as a steam fitter and worked for the Union Pacific and Katy railroads before founding Gribben Motors in Parsons, Kansas circa 1918. Dale graduated from Parsons High School in 1935. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1939. That time began his 75+ years as a raving Kansas Jayhawk sports fan for which he served as Chairman of Southeast Kansas University Alumni Association, the KU Development Committee, and a member of the KU Williams Endowment Fund.
Following graduation, Dale worked for Sheffield Steel and Phillips Petroleum both in Kansas City until 1948. He met Louise Josephine Brockelman, an airline hostess for TWA, in 1944, and they were married in the Linwood Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri on January 20, 1945. They moved to Parsons in 1948 when he joined his retiring father, Charles, in the auto dealer business selling Buicks and other General Motors brands.
Upon returning to his hometown, Dale became very active in the business community and civic affairs serving as President of the Parsons Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, Chair of the Parsons Industrial Development Fund.
Professionally, in his nearly 30 years in the automobile business, he was President of the local new car dealers association, served on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Motor Car Dealers, and a member of the Buick and Pontiac national Motor Car Dealers Council. In retirement, Dale continued his lifelong love of his daily golf game and many travels with Louise and friends. They were members of the Parsons Wesley United Methodist church.
In 2006 they moved to Boise to be closer to their children. Dale is survived by his wife of 65 years, Louise; son, Gary (Virginia) of Boise; daughter, Patricia of Oakland, CA; and grandson, Matthew (fiancée, Haley Knowlton) of Santa Clara, CA. Dale was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Jack.
At Dale's request there will be no public memorial service. An informal Open House will be held at the home of Gary and Ginny Gribben, 2263 Bluestem Lane, Boise. Friends are welcome to join the family in remembering and celebrating Dale's life from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday evening, April 2nd. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross. These may be left at or mailed to the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home P.O. Box 374 Parsons, Kansas 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Dale Gribben, please visit our flower store.
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