Dale L. Hartman

Dale Hartman was born April 2, 1935, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He was the youngest of four children born to Frank and Lulu Hartman of Chillicothe, Iowa. Dale graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1953 and attended Iowa State University on a track scholarship. He then attended Officer Training School as a USAF Cadet. Dale spent his career working at Des Moines Flying Service, Eagle Iron Works, and Ryko Manufacturing while serving in the Iowa Air National Guard for 30 years.

Dale loved to fly. He aspired to become a pilot and fly jet planes as a young man. Dale made that goal a reality and managed to integrate flying into every career move he ever made. In 2013, Dale’s Des Moines-based fighter squadron nominated him to be honored in recognition of his contribution to our aviation and space exploration heritage at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Dale’s name is inscribed in the F-100 Super Sabre section of the Wall of Honor as a permanent testament to his commitment to and passion for flight.

Dale’s other love was Charlene. Many say his first and second loves were Charlene and flying, however, there is still much debate about the order of those loves according to Charlene! Dale married Charlene Deal on January 20, 1957 in Ottumwa, Iowa. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, they drove to Arizona so Dale could start his flight instrument training at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler. Upon completion of his flight training, Dale and Charlene moved to Des Moines and Dale was hired as an instructor pilot at Des Moines Flying Service, and as a pilot for Eagle Iron Works. In 1985, he retired from the Guard as a Colonel and continued working for Ryko Manufacturing until he fully retired in 2000. To celebrate their retirement and love of travel, Dale and Charlene embarked on a 75-day world cruise in 2001.

Dale was a strong family man, deeply devoted not only to Charlene and the children but also to his older brothers and sister. Dale took his family on annual car vacations across the United States seeing as many sights as they could squeeze into each day. Dale also loved to take the family on spur of the moment trips - without an agenda - and would tell the kids they “…would know where they were going once they got there.” Other simple pleasures included farming, enjoying the sunshine, winters in Florida, flying kites, wearing shorts year-round and relishing in the splendor of the daily sunset.

Dale is survived by his wife of 59 years, Charlene; son, Bryan (Joanne) Hartman of Mediapolis; daughters, Dala (Mike) Scoblic of Waukee and Tracy (Bruce) Imber of El Cajon, California; sister, Maycel Rowland of Ottumwa; brother, Dean (Lois) Hartman of Ottumwa; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jack Hartman of Chillicothe, Iowa.