For those interested, here's some photos of our friend Dale McPhearson's funeral this afternoon. (Lest anyone think posting the photos is inappropriate or invasive, Dale's son Barry "Son-o-Lark" encouraged me to do so.)
The funeral was heavily "Studebaker," as you might imagine...the minister who spoke grew up in South Bend / Mishawaka. His grandfather had assembled front wheel brake and bearing assemblies on the Studebaker truck assembly line!
Click images to enlarge:
Studes lined up for the procession. Not a lot; the weather was iffy:
A 1940 LaSalle Hearse owned by Goodwin Funeral Home is used for special occasions such as this. Here, Dale "boards" for his last ride...sadly, not in a Studebaker, but at least a collector "car." Barry "Son-O-Lark" McPhearson is at this end of the casket. The casket is adorned with an American Flag because Dale was a 23-year career Navy Veteran. Full Military Honors would be tendered at the cemetery.
The procession leaves for the cemetery. Barry "Son-O-Lark" is driving Dale's unrestored 1939 Champion Coupe:
Did we say unrestored? Yep; check out the original Purdue University (Go Purdue!) Student Parking Permits from the early 1960s!
At the cemetery, Dale's casket passes between the American and Navy Flags. Barry still at the rear. The young man (pall bearer) in the center of the casket on the far side is Dale's grandson, who later played taps:
Casket is positioned over the grave:
Three loud volleys of 7 guns for a 21-Gun Salute followed, after which a bugler played taps. The bugler was Dale's grandson.
Ironically, and from the Small World Dept, the two riflemen on the right side are brothers, John and Loyd (yes, one "L") Bonecutter from the Honor Guard unit of the Sheridan IN American Legion Post.
John and Loyd volunteered for this assignment not knowing the name of the deceased Veteran. But John and Loyd are friends of mine who both owned Studebakers back in the day. In fact, to this day, Loyd owns the 1955 Champion Regal Coupe I bought as a 16-year-old in 1963 to "restore." It's well-worn and I haven't seen it in 40 years, but Loyd assures me it's inside in a new, good, tight garage. Imagine running into both of them today at Dale's funeral.
The flag was appropriately folded for presentation to Dale's Children. Someone will have to post the rank of the Officer folding the flag; I don't profess to know the meaning of all those stripes and bars.
The folded flag is presented to Dale and Barb McPhearson's four children, all shown in this photo. From the left, youngest son Tom, son Barry "Son-O-Lark," having received the flag for the family, daughter Colleen, and daughter Heather on the far right:
Our dear friend, career Navy Veteran and die-hard Studebaker lover Dale Lee McPhearson, was laid to rest in The Garden of Honor section of the cemetery, dedicated to all Veterans who have served The United States of America and their spouses. Most of "us" were here in 2014, when Barbara was laid to rest immediately next to what is now Dale's grave.
(I tried to post a photo of the nice, brass Garden of Honor plaque, but the forum limits us to ten photos per post, so see Post #2, below. )
RIP, Dale. BP
The funeral was heavily "Studebaker," as you might imagine...the minister who spoke grew up in South Bend / Mishawaka. His grandfather had assembled front wheel brake and bearing assemblies on the Studebaker truck assembly line!
Click images to enlarge:
Studes lined up for the procession. Not a lot; the weather was iffy:
A 1940 LaSalle Hearse owned by Goodwin Funeral Home is used for special occasions such as this. Here, Dale "boards" for his last ride...sadly, not in a Studebaker, but at least a collector "car." Barry "Son-O-Lark" McPhearson is at this end of the casket. The casket is adorned with an American Flag because Dale was a 23-year career Navy Veteran. Full Military Honors would be tendered at the cemetery.
The procession leaves for the cemetery. Barry "Son-O-Lark" is driving Dale's unrestored 1939 Champion Coupe:
Did we say unrestored? Yep; check out the original Purdue University (Go Purdue!) Student Parking Permits from the early 1960s!
At the cemetery, Dale's casket passes between the American and Navy Flags. Barry still at the rear. The young man (pall bearer) in the center of the casket on the far side is Dale's grandson, who later played taps:
Casket is positioned over the grave:
Three loud volleys of 7 guns for a 21-Gun Salute followed, after which a bugler played taps. The bugler was Dale's grandson.
Ironically, and from the Small World Dept, the two riflemen on the right side are brothers, John and Loyd (yes, one "L") Bonecutter from the Honor Guard unit of the Sheridan IN American Legion Post.
John and Loyd volunteered for this assignment not knowing the name of the deceased Veteran. But John and Loyd are friends of mine who both owned Studebakers back in the day. In fact, to this day, Loyd owns the 1955 Champion Regal Coupe I bought as a 16-year-old in 1963 to "restore." It's well-worn and I haven't seen it in 40 years, but Loyd assures me it's inside in a new, good, tight garage. Imagine running into both of them today at Dale's funeral.
The flag was appropriately folded for presentation to Dale's Children. Someone will have to post the rank of the Officer folding the flag; I don't profess to know the meaning of all those stripes and bars.
The folded flag is presented to Dale and Barb McPhearson's four children, all shown in this photo. From the left, youngest son Tom, son Barry "Son-O-Lark," having received the flag for the family, daughter Colleen, and daughter Heather on the far right:
Our dear friend, career Navy Veteran and die-hard Studebaker lover Dale Lee McPhearson, was laid to rest in The Garden of Honor section of the cemetery, dedicated to all Veterans who have served The United States of America and their spouses. Most of "us" were here in 2014, when Barbara was laid to rest immediately next to what is now Dale's grave.
(I tried to post a photo of the nice, brass Garden of Honor plaque, but the forum limits us to ten photos per post, so see Post #2, below. )
RIP, Dale. BP
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