Dale L. Fooshee

Dale L. Fooshee, 88, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2022.
He was born October 9, 1933, in Spring Hill, Kansas, the son of Claude and Agnes (Rader) Fooshee.

Dale grew up and attended school in Garnett, Kansas, graduating from Garnett High School as valedictorian in 1951. He earned his bachelor's degree with honors in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 1955. During his time at K-State, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta, Blue Key, and Farm House Fraternities. He also served as director and president of the KSU Farm Management Association. While attending K-State, he served as a delegate in Sweden with the International Farm Youth Exchange Program sponsored by Kansas State University and 4-H program. This experience had a great influence on the direction his life took and the choices he made.

After college, he married Shirley Ann Copeland in Garnett, Kansas on June 8, 1956. Dale and Shirley moved to Augusta, Georgia where he served two years in the Army as a Radio Operations Instructor.

He began his career as an Agricultural Agent of Kansas Extension Service in Elk County, Kansas, coordinating many volunteer extension groups and 4-H Clubs. In 1963 he and Shirley "returned home" and started his farming operation of a hog enterprise with 1800 feeder pigs, 135 sows, plus a small cow herd on a 2000 acre farm in Anderson County, Kansas. He also had part ownership of two county elevators and farm supply business.

Dale served on the National Advisory Council for the Peace Corps from 1970 until 1972. He was appointed by former President Richard Nixon, upon the recommendation of Senator Robert Dole.

In 1977 he was named the Distinguished Agricultural Economics Alumnus from Kansas State University. The Award honors former graduates of the department who have distinguished themselves professionally through their contribution to agriculture.

Dale and Shirley were very active for many years in the United Methodist Church in Garnett. Not only did he hold many offices, but also worked on many district and conference levels. He helped organize and held a chair with the Kansas East Conference Hunger Task Force from 1976 until 1984, serving on projects in many countries, including Mexico, Haiti, Russia, and Guatemala. This too was another important influence in his life.

Dale served for seven years as Council Director for the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church overseeing all programming agencies of the conference such as missions, camping, youth, campus ministry, and social issues. Prior to that he served as an Associate Council Director and Rural Life Advocate, a position with special responsibilities related to troubled farm families and communities during the farm crisis. He was recognized as Rural Lay Person of the Year by the Kansas East Conference UMC in 1985.

Dale was very active in his retirement years. He was very involved in the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice. He also served on the board of the Shepherd Center. For eight years he was involved with the National United Methodist Board of Missions in 120 countries. He volunteered with Stephen's Ministries, a peer support organization and was a weekly hospital visitor for his church. He was currently the Democratic Party precinct chair and was instrumental in getting the state minimum wage increased.

Dale's family and friends meant everything to him. He visited each grandchild, who all lived out of state, on their birthday. He never knew a stranger and never went a day without lunch plans with someone.

He is survived by four daughters, Janet Fouche-Schack (James), Julie Fooshee (Pam Dooley), Jill Babcock (Sherri), and Kimberly Marbello (Rey); five grandchildren, Grace Ann Babcock, Shea Celeste Dooley, Quentin Lewis Marbello, Ethan Rey Marbello, and Faith Mae Babcock.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley on December 28, 2003 and a granddaughter, Maria Elisabeth Dooley in November 4, 2006.

Visitation will be 6pm-8pm Friday, July 1, 2022 at Topeka First United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be 10:30 am, Saturday, July 2, 2022 also at Topeka First United Methodist Church. Services will be live streamed and can be viewed at www.forthegoodofthecity.org/livestream. Interment will follow at Garnett Cemetery, Garnett, KS between 1:30pm-2pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Topeka First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66603.

To leave a message for Dale's family, please visit the guestbook below.