E. Dale

Emma Genevieve Dale 91, retired Funeral Director and Co-Owner of the Dale Funeral Home of Toledo died from congestive heart failure on Wednesday May 4, 2007 at Swan Creek Retirement Village where she had lived for several years. Born Emma Genevieve Allen in Urbana, OH in 1915, she was one of seven children of the late Harry and Clara Belle Allen. Including her immediate family of brothers and one sister, she was part of an extended family of 32 African American Funeral Directors in this state and others during her life. Four of her five brothers, many cousins and in-laws were Funeral Directors including The House of Wills Funeral Homes, Boyd Funeral Homes, Slaughter Funeral Homes in Cleveland, the Allen Funeral Home in Urbana, the Hawkins Funeral Home in Philadelphia and others. She and her husband Jack (C. J. Dale) moved to Toledo in the late 1930’s to open the Dale Funeral Home at the location of the former E. B. Wanzo Funeral Home on Nebraska Avenue at City Park. She was a longtime Toledo resident, entrepreneur and business women, a licensed Ohio Funeral Director, community activist, elegant hostess, and a gracious charming lady. “Ginny” as her friends called her was a founder, owner and partner with Clarence J. Dale in the Dale Funeral Home Inc, one of the largest area funeral homes and a nationally known Black business of more than 60 years. Genevieve and Jack met during childhood and their friendship grew to a marriage of 63 years ending with his death in December of 2002. She was the first African American valedictorian of her high school class and was awarded the school’s traditional entry and scholarship to Urbana College; the first African American so honored thereby breaking down racial barriers of the era at the College. The College’s attempt to educate her “separate but equal” failed dismally shortly after her admission and she matriculated with the regular student body. In 2003 she was inducted into the Urbana University (formerly Urbana College) Hall Of Fame along with her late husband Clarence Jaxon as an exemplary role model for the professional excellence and achievements of her life. In the induction ceremony Genevieve was acknowledged as a forerunner in the era’s Civil Rights by the current University president, Dr. Head in addressing and removing the obstacles of the time which opened the door for himself, an African American to take the helm of this prestigious University in recent years. After moving to Toledo she continued her education at the Mary Manse College which used to be on Collingwood Boulevard in Toledo. During WWII she worked at the local Unemployement Bureau in addition to her work at the Dale Funeral Home and the funeral home ambulance service. She was a licensed Ohio Funeral Director and was the first African American Woman to serve as president of the Northwest Ohio Funeral Directors Association. Genevieve was also a member of the National Funeral Director and Mortician Association and the National Funeral Director’s Association during her professional career. Ginny had an uncompromising Christian faith. She was a lifetime member of All Saints Episcopal Church. She was a member of the Episcopal Church Women and worked in many other church activities through the years chairing and supporting many projects and committees. She was also seen most Sundays with her husband Jack at Warren A.M.E. Church after the services at All Saints since they worshiped together at both churches during their retirement years. She was a founding member of The Toledo Chapter of the Girlfriends, Inc., member of The Toledo Chapter of the Links, Inc, The National Association of Black Business and Professional Women’s Club, The Study Hour Club, Zonta International, A lifetime member of the NAACP and several other service organizations. Mostly Genevieve was the epitome of grace and style. She was a real lady who was soft, kind, warm, friendly and gracious. She mirrored her late husband Jack’s ability to open a heart to everyone and make others feel special. Her demure elegance and gentle presence will be so missed in this world by her family and everyone who knew her. The last of her brothers and sister, Genevieve was blessed in this life and leaves behind one son Allen (Renee) Jaxon Dale of Celina TN, a Funeral Director who worked side by side with her and her husband in the 18 years before her retirement in 1997. She also leaves her cherished grandchildren Clairese and Adrian Dale of Celina TN; her beloved nieces, Donetta (Fred) Scott of Los Angeles CA, her treasured late sister Dorothy’s daughter who trained as a Funeral Director under her in the Toledo firm; Barbara Wiltz of Atlanta GA; Carolyn (Robert) Meza of Detroit MI and Jane Thompson of Menlo Park CA; her nephews Robert (Yvonne); Ron (Dr. Cheryl) and Guy Allen-Wills of Cleveland OH, Jerry Allen; David Williams of Chicago IL; and loving Sisters-in-law Edna Allen in Cleveland, Fannie Mae Allen in Atlanta and Janet Williams in Chicago. Notably, she leaves Sheryl Riggs, the funeral director who entered her life to secure the Dale family’s funeral service legacy, to love her and be loved and who continues the family’s’ tradition of outstanding service to the community in the Dale-Riggs Funeral Home since the retirement of Genevieve, Jack and Jack Jr.. Visitation will be Wednesday 4 – 8 p.m. and Thursday 2 – 6 p.m. followed by wake services 6 – 9 p.m. which will include memorial rites by The Toledo Chapter of the Links, Inc. at 7:00 p.m. and Toledo Chapter of Girlfriends, Inc at 8:00 p.m. Dale-Riggs Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be Friday 11:00 a.m. All Saints Episcopal Church, Rev. Beverly A. Tasy celebrant, interment Historic Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial donations are requested by the family to be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, an organization Genevieve supported in life from inception in our area and the special people who serve there for others and who assisted her in her own recent time of need. www.dalefh.com.