Dale Calvin Yost, 99, of Lynchburg, Virginia. Born in York, North Dakota on April 18, 1927, left this world to spend eternity with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven, on September 24, 2026.  Dale spent his early years living and working on the family farm in York, North Dakota. He often spoke of the harsh winters there and traveling to school in a box wagon with a wood stove inside and carrying a hot potato in his pocket to keep his hands warm on the way to school and then that potato became lunch later in the day. When Dale entered his teens his father Russell moved the family to Niles, Michigan where they spent the first several months living in a one room tent near Brandywine Creek. His mom, Esther, and his dad eventually purchased a small grocery store in Niles where Dale learned about running a business and got his start in the meat cutting trade. His first job in Niles was selling concessions at the local ballpark, “peanuts, popcorn, candy and cold pop”. 

Upon graduating from Niles High School Dale entered Navy bootcamp while the War in the Pacific was still raging. He had a condition develop while in bootcamp that required him to have an unexpected surgery. This delayed his deployment to the war zone for several weeks during which the Japanese surrendered to American forces. Dale was part of the wave of American sailors, soldiers and marines that relieved the men that had survived the brunt of the fighting. He visited Hong Kong, mainland China and stopped in Okinawa where they were warned not to venture far from their ship since many of the caves and jungles contained Japanese soldiers that were not yet aware that the war had ended. After about eleven months Dale was honorably discharged from the Navy and returned home to Niles. It was there that he met and married his first wife Beverly. 

They had a daughter, Judy. Dale worked again at his parent’s store, then a Harding’s store where he again worked as a meat cutter. Dale and his first wife divorced after a short time. Some months later he began dating his second wife and the proclaimed “love of my life”, Florence Martin. Dale and Florence or Flossy married soon after. Not satisfied with his current lot he began attending the South Bend College of Commerce in South Bend, Indiana. After graduating he took a job with a company in Niles as their principal accountant, the profession he would embrace for the entirety of his working career. Not long after he took a job at Haas Corporation in Mendon, Michigan. And although the company would change owners and names over the years this is the company he would eventually retire from. While still in Niles Dale and Flossy had two sons, Richard or Dick, and Don. When Dale took the Mendon job at Haas Corp. he moved the family to Vicksburg, Michigan, where another son, Tom, was born. They later moved to Three Rivers, Michigan and had another son, David. Dale, Flossy, Dick, Don, Tom and Dave eventually moved to Mendon where Dale worked until he retired. 

During his time in Mendon, Dale was mayor for ten plus years, he was a devoted member of the local Kiwanis Club, he was president of the Mendon Athletic Booster’s Club, he was a scout leader and active in the Methodist Church in Mendon. He remained there until his children were grown and until the sad passing of the love of his life, Florence. After Florence was gone Dale left Mendon and moved to their winter home on Pine Island near Fort Myers, Florida. Here Dale spent time volunteering, staying involved with Kiwanis and eventually offered his services to a local charity that provided aid to older persons that needed assistance with a variety of things including rides to and from appointments or the grocery store. It was on one of these rides that Dale met his third wife Mimi. Dale and Mimi married a few months after a ride to the doctor's office turned into lunch, then dinner the next day and so on. Dale and Mimi traveled extensively in Europe and throughout the United States. Dale acquired Mimi’s love of opera and theater. They traveled to several venues to see performances and sightsee. Mimi’s brother was an orchestra conductor who was tenured at the Vienna Opera house in Vienna, Austria. They visited there often and viewed several opera performances in the city that was famous for its contributions to the genre. Dale and Mimi loved to cruise. They sailed the Caribbean many times, the Rhine River in Europe and many others. They both retired to a retirement community in Cape Coral, Florida, where after many happy years together Mimi passed away with Dale by her side. Dale then moved to Virginia to live with his son Don. He lived with Don and Don’s wife Connie until life’s trials and age overcame him and he moved to an assisted living facility in nearby Lynchburg, Virginia. It is here where Dale spent his final days and hours. 

He was cremated as was his wish, and a memorial service will take place at a later date.  His ashes will be buried at the cemetery in Elberta, Michigan next to Florence. Dale was preceded in death by his wives and two brothers, Alvin and Wayne Yost and his sister Bonnie Ritter. He is survived by his daughter Judy Friend of Niles, Son Richard Yost of Wolcottville, Indiana, Son Don Yost of Forest, Virginia, Son Tom Yost of Three Rivers, Michigan, and Son David Yost of Richmond, Virginia.  

In lieu of a monetary donation, please send up a prayer, a thought, a song, a poem or a shout to Heaven that Dale has a long-awaited rest from the cares of this world and that his beloved Jesus greets him with the words he lived a lifetime to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”