Dale Burton Douglas

 Dale was born December 18, 1929, in Emmett, Idaho to Burton Leroy (Bud) Douglas and Bertha Jeanette (Pratt) Douglas. He married Phyllis LaVerne Reynolds, also from Emmett, on August 25, 1951. He attended the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, where he received a B.S. and M.S. in Agriculture. He subsequently received an M.A. in Rural Church from the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School, Berkeley, California.
  When one considers what he accomplished in life, it is best viewed by what God accomplished through him. Dale spent five and one-half years in Mexico as an agricultural missionary. One of his posts was in Teloloapan, in the state of Guerrero, where he worked with an evangelist named Jim Hollingsworth. Dale taught farmers how to grow crops more productively and Jim told them about Jesus. Lives changed dramatically.
  In 1962, Western Wheat Associates hired him to oversee the importation of U.S. wheat into India as part of a food relief program. He traveled extensively throughout India promoting the use of wheat. 
  The summer of 1966 was the beginning of a twenty-four-year career with the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service. During those years, he was posted to Mexico, Spain, Israel, Germany, and Australia. In 1979 he was appointed a charter member of the Senior Executive Service of the United States of America by President Jimmy Carter, and in 1981 he received an appointment as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, position of Counselor, by President Ronald Reagan. At the time of retirement, he held the position of Deputy Administrator, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Agricultural Service. Following retirement in 1989, he and Phyllis moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia.
  Dale loved to garden and grow house plants. Some of the plants have survived over thirty years in his children’s and friends’ homes and are still flourishing. Another interest was his involvement with the Seven Stars Therapeutic Center. The focus of the center was equine therapy, but it also offered programs related to gardening, nature, wildlife, and working with small farm animals. He was also an active member of Rotary International for fifteen years. 
  Dale is survived by his wife, Phyllis LaVerne Douglas, (Vestavia Hills, AL), and by his four children: Debra Dee Dever, (Manassas, VA), Dixie Lee Schroeder, (Vestavia Hills, AL), Donovan Burton Douglas, (Farmville, VA), and Dallas Merle Douglas, (Mashpee, MA). He currently has thirteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. Dale and Phyllis would have been married 73 years on August 25, 2024.
  Dale lived a long, productive, and blessed life. He died in his sleep on August 18, 2024, at his daughter Dixie’s home. To God be the glory for his life.

Services for Dale will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Potter Funeral Chapel of Emmett.  Interment will follow at the Emmett Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following:

Bridgewater Rotary Club                    
c/o Treasurer                                    
Dr. David Huffman                             
3215 Nutmeg Court                                 
Rockingham, VA 22801                    

 Lakeside Baptist Church
2865 Old Rocky Ridge Rd.
Birmingham, AL 35243
Donate Online @:    
lakesidebaptist.com/give            

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