Dale Mason McGinnis, 81, lost a courageous battle to cancer at the Midland Care Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas on September 30, 2010. Dale was born October 14, 1928, son of Ralph Erp McGinnis and Blanche Hood McGinnis, who preceded him in death. He graduated from Holton High School in 1947 and attended Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. He was married to Lenita Arnold August 15, 1948. She survives. Dale and Lenita have five children, Daniel and his wife Barbara, Topeka, Kansas; daughter, Leah and her husband Tim Cole of Edmond, Oklahoma; Doug and his wife Connie, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; daughter, Linda and her husband Warren Woodruff, of Topeka, Kansas and son Don and his wife, Jean of Topeka, Kansas, all
who survive.
Dale and Lenita have 8 grandchildren, Brandi Wells, Topeka, Kansas; Alyson Mitchell, Topeka, Kansas; Grady Woodruff, Topeka, Kansas; Shelby McGinnis, Topeka, Kansas; Billie Dale McGinnis, Norman, Oklahoma; Rhiannon Tuck, Ft. Scott, Kansas; Kelly Urban, Stillwater, Oklahoma and Crystal Holmes, Topeka, Kansas. They have also been blessed with 10 great-grandchildren. Dale has one sister, Janice Derfelt and her husband, Paul of Branson, Missouri who survive. In addition, Dale and Lenita have a host of friends, nieces and nephews, and "adopted children" as their home was always made open to all of their children's friends and anyone who needed a friend. Dale loved his family and leaves many wonderful memories with not only Lenita, but his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed, but his stories, sense of humor and love of life will never be forgotten which he shared with all until leaving this world.
Dale spent many years in the retail clothing industry having worked for J.C. Penney in Holton, Manhattan and Independence and for J.M. McDonald in ElDorado, Liberal and Pratt. Dale and Lenita moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1971 and Dale worked for Volume Shoe in Topeka for 17 years. He and Lenita then moved to Branson, Missouri in 1990 and were co-owners and operated Brills Rainbow Resort with Dale's sister, Janice and her husband, Paul Derfelt until the resort was sold. They returned to Topeka in 2003.
Dale was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Care Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, Kansas 66606 or Grace United Methodist Church, 2627 SW Western, Topeka, Kansas 66611.
Funeral services will be held at11:00 o'clock a.m. Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the Grace United Methodist Church, 2627 SW Western, Topeka, Kansas. There will be no graveside service immediately following the funeral service. Visitation will be at Mercer Funeral Home, 1101 W. 4th, Holton, Kansas from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 1, 2010.