Dale Dickey was a Bluffton University faculty member and Presbyterian pastor
Dale Dickey, 92, formerly of Bluffton, passed away peacefully at his home in Prior Lake, MN, on February 24.
Preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn (Kerry) Vore Dickey (d. 2013) and daughter, Elizabeth Lacey (d. 2014), Dale was born in Sidney, OH August 1, 1925. He graduated from Sidney High School in 1943, Bluffton College in 1950 (B.A.), Princeton Theological Seminary in 1952 (M.Div.), and Bowling Green State University (Ph.D.) in 1980.
Dale was stationed in India in WWII with the United States Army Air Corps. Ordained in 1953, he served as pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Peru, IN, from 1960-68, and was active in the Maumee Valley Presbytery of Ohio for many years. He was a member of the faculty of Bluffton University in the Department of Speech 1952-1960 and 1968-1990. Dale is survived by his daughter Johanna Rian (Neil Anderson) of Lakeville, MN; nephews Keith Vore (Judy) of Parkville, MO and Eric Vore (Kristy) of Lima, OH; nieces Jill Gullette (Rick) and Jennifer Boughan (Rick) of Lima, OH; granddaughter Katherine Schlesser (Kyle) and great-granddaughter Hadley Schlesser of Lakeville, MN.
A former basketball and tennis player, Dale enjoyed sailing, golfing, and cross-country skiing. He and Kerry enjoyed traveling and spent several summers on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, where Dale served as supply pastor to the local Church of Scotland parishes.
A memorial service will be held at Bluffton Presbyterian Church, Bluffton, on May 11 with burial at Lewis Grove Cemetery, in Lima. Memorials may be sent to Bluffton University or Bluffton Presbyterian Church.
Stories Posted This Week
Monday, October 26, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 19-25
- Ada Icon headlines, October 26
- November 13 fish fry at Emmanuel UCC
- Citizens National Bank customer appreciation day, October 30
- Bluffton University offers free agricultural and environmental field trips
- Trinity Trunk or Treat, October 31
- October 26 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Public invited to Bluffton Lions program with President Sider
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 24
- Are you a friend of the Bluffton Public Library?
- Weekend Doctor: What you need to know about flu season
- Courtney Linke joins CNB as VP Business Banking Officer
- Blanchard Valley Health System Announces Updates to Board of Trustees
- Blanchard Valley Health Foundation Announces Changes to Board of Directors
Friday, October 23, 2026
- Village of Bluffton announces late afternoon drill at Bluffton Schools, October 23
- Pirate volleyball eliminated in sectionals by Archbold
- Pirate boys soccer knocked off by Bath
- Main St. closure rescheduled; parapet work to take place Oct. 27
- Bluffton student to reflect on diabetes research experience
- Bluffton University receives $8,000 Stinner Summit award for youth agricultural and environmental education
- Elections matter, including midterms
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 22
- ICAPP study: Ohioans strongly oppose data center expansion and tax breaks
- Pirate girls soccer ousts rival Allen East in sectionals
- Strawberry Fields Forever: Fruit polyphenols and brain health
- Last call for Bluffton Cars & Coffee for 2026
- Icon calendar gets a little more elbow room
- Bluffton Board of Education recap: Contracts for coaches and new bus driver