Dale E. Phelps
Dale E. Phelps
Dale E. Phelps, 90, of Sun City Center (SCC) passed away peacefully on Sept. 6, 2025. He was preceded in death by Dolores M. Phelps, who was his loving wife of almost 68 years and his high school sweetheart. Together they had two children, David Phelps and Diane (Serdar) Phelps-Soysal, and two grandchildren Ash and Evan Soysal. Dale was born in Sturgis, MI, to Erwin and Hazel Phelps. He had one brother, Glenn (Karen) Phelps.
Dale was a hard-working farm kid who loved sports. He was the class president at White Pigeon High School, and balanced four sports (football, basketball, baseball and track) while playing the clarinet in the school band. Before his junior year of high school, his family moved, and Dale became class president at Lee High School in Grand Rapids. He fell in love with a lovely lady who worked at a soda shop. Dale invited Dolores to the prom, and the rest was history.
Education was very important to Dale. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Michigan State and then a doctorate from Indiana University.
He taught at the University of Michigan and set up its intramural programs. Then in 1970, he moved his family up north for a position as a full professor at Northern Michigan University. In addition to helping set up the intramural programs and the recreational building, he taught fun classes like health, bowling, fly tying, golf, hiking, etc. If you ever had a question about any sports statistics, you could always ask Dale.
Dale retired in 1996 and then moved to SCC in 1997 to enjoy the Florida sunshine. He was very active with the Lawn Bowling Club and assisted in getting the clubhouse built while he was president. When things slowed down, his activities were mostly going to concerts, watching sports, fishing and playing golf.
His family will have a small celebration of life in Michigan later this year.
Dale E. Phelps, 90, of Sun City Center (SCC) passed away peacefully on Sept. 6, 2025. He was preceded in death by Dolores M. Phelps, who was his loving wife of almost 68 years and his high school sweetheart. Together they had two children, David Phelps and Diane (Serdar) Phelps-Soysal, and two grandchildren Ash and Evan Soysal. Dale was born in Sturgis, MI, to Erwin and Hazel Phelps. He had one brother, Glenn (Karen) Phelps.
Dale was a hard-working farm kid who loved sports. He was the class president at White Pigeon High School, and balanced four sports (football, basketball, baseball and track) while playing the clarinet in the school band. Before his junior year of high school, his family moved, and Dale became class president at Lee High School in Grand Rapids. He fell in love with a lovely lady who worked at a soda shop. Dale invited Dolores to the prom, and the rest was history.
Education was very important to Dale. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Michigan State and then a doctorate from Indiana University.
He taught at the University of Michigan and set up its intramural programs. Then in 1970, he moved his family up north for a position as a full professor at Northern Michigan University. In addition to helping set up the intramural programs and the recreational building, he taught fun classes like health, bowling, fly tying, golf, hiking, etc. If you ever had a question about any sports statistics, you could always ask Dale.
Dale retired in 1996 and then moved to SCC in 1997 to enjoy the Florida sunshine. He was very active with the Lawn Bowling Club and assisted in getting the clubhouse built while he was president. When things slowed down, his activities were mostly going to concerts, watching sports, fishing and playing golf.
His family will have a small celebration of life in Michigan later this year.