Dale McClain Obituary

Dale Francis McClain

March 20, 1927 -

July 12, 2025

Dale McClain, 98, of Kingsport, TN, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Born on March 20, 1927, in Youngstown, Ohio, Dale lived his life just like he always said - "It's your life, you gotta lead it".

Dale started working as an ambulance driver for a funeral home at age 16. During World War II, he joined the Navy and was stationed in Memphis in the medical core, driving ambulance and providing chauffeur services - the most memorable being driving Helen Keller.

Dale was a conductor on the Florida East Coast Railroad - a position he fought for after a lengthy RR strike. While the RR was on strike, he worked driving a concrete mixer and finishing concrete - a medium that he loved.

Dale pursued his passions with gusto. He loved cars and had a '36 Ford Roadster for over 50 years. He loved camping and playing music (singing, accordion, guitar, violin). At one point, he had his pilot's license. While in Florida, he had a boat named "Busted" that he loved to run the Intracoastal Waterway.

He was always learning and even spent a semester in England at Cambridge University studying poetry and art. He was the first in the family with a computer and he stayed active online the rest of his life.

Dale woke up every day ready to get into something. As they say, "makers gotta make" and he did so in many forms - stained glass, concrete, bondo, royal icing, duct tape.... His true passion was art and he absolutely needed to paint. He loved to work in oil paints and mostly did portraits and political cartoons.

Dale was as independent as a hog on ice and lived alone for over 40 years. Surprisingly, he really embraced being "institutionalized" in Assisted Living and Long-Term Care these last 8+ years. He loved his CNA's and staff at Brookdale, American House, and Holston Rehab. They were a tremendous support system and are worth their weight in gold.

We are very grateful to John Kelly at Holston Rehab for allowing Dale to keep his electric wheelchair and paint in his room. He did not skip a beat moving from Assisted Living to long-term care.

We are very grateful to the VA for the tremendous support they provided, especially the electric wheelchairs that he called his "Lamborghini". Ruth Quejada treated Dale better than he ever treated himself.

All in all, it was a wild ride that we never thought would end. In fact, we are sure he has "a few thousand more things to say".

He is preceded in death by his parents Chester and Marion (Miskell) McClain; brother Dean and wife Carol McClain; daughter Dalene Mallog; his beloved Poochie; and ex-wives JoAnn Carter McClain and Patricia Thompson Snyder McClain.

His family loved him dearly. He is survived by daughters Charlene (Dr. Carl) Bendeck, Maureen (Edmund) Visneski, Colleene (Jim) Kershner; grandchildren Caity Jo Bendeck, Daniel Bendeck, Chris Bendeck, Nick Bendeck, Makayla Kershner, Karlene Mallog, William Mallog, Addie Mallog; son-in-law Bill Mallog; great-grandchildren Xavier and Josiah Mallog; Nephews Dean (Beverly) and Scott McClain, niece Tammy (Dale) Basista; and a plethora of extended family and friends.

Internment will be held at Mountain Home National Cemetery on August 29, 2025 at 3pm with military honors provided by American Legion Hammond's Post 3 / Gate City 265 and procession by Rolling Thunder.

A catered Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Trinity Memorial Centers. Please join us to share memories, stories, and celebrate the unique and wonderful life he lived.

Dale was a great storyteller. We encourage friends and family to share stories on line at trinitymemorialcenters.com

Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home (423-723-8177) is honored to serve the family.