Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Dale Frederick Voss, 87, died at home in Annapolis, Maryland on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. After a morning of gardening, he settled down for an afternoon of reading, fell asleep, and never woke up. Dale was kind, thoughtful, charismatic, and energetic, admired and relied upon by all who knew him. The arcs of his life were traced in family, faith, service, language, and education, creating a gentleman of quiet humility, warm humor, and patient devotion.
 
Dale was born in Freeport, Illinois to Fred and Esther Voss on March 24, 1929, the second son of their four children. Dale, his brothers Laverne and Roger, and his sister Maxine joined their church youth group, the Cootie Club, forming friendships Dale kept throughout his life. The Voss kids enjoyed an old-fashioned, small-town childhood, developing a strong work ethic and solid values.
 
Dale’s passion for French started early: he joined the French Club in Freeport Senior High School and co-majored in French at North Central College in Illinois. He was drafted during the Korean War, serving at Valley Forge Army Hospital. Dale taught French at Monroe Senior High School and earned his Masters degree from University of Wisconsin on the GI Bill. In 1961 he moved abroad to Leysin, Switzerland, where he was a summer camp counselor for American dependent children; he was promoted to Camp Director in Fredericksvaerck, Denmark the following year. He was hired by the Overseas Education Department of the U.S. Armed Forces in Poitiers, France, where he served as Head Dormitory Counselor at the American High School from 1962 to 1965. There he met fellow American abroad Marilyn Elizabeth Price, the coworker who would later become his wife. Dale was known for writing letters, and wrote Marilyn regularly after she returned to the U.S. to live in Washington, DC. Their friendship deepened, and when Dale was ready to move Stateside, he chose Greenbelt, Maryland, a Washington suburb. Romance quickly developed, and the two were married in 1966.
 
Dale’s career centered around understanding, supporting, and teaching others. His undergraduate studies were in Psychology; his graduate studies, in Counseling and Guidance; his doctoral studies at the University of Denver and University of Maryland, in Student Personnel. He worked in college administration, serving as Admissions Director of Rockford College in Illinois, Assistant Director of Housing at the University of Maryland, and Assistant Registrar of Anne Arundel Community College. When the family moved to Macomb, Illinois in 1970, he became Director of Graduate and Family Housing at Western Illinois University, serving for 23 years; for 17 of those years, he also taught Psychology at Carl Sandburg Junior College. In 1993 the family moved back to Maryland, this time to Annapolis, and Dale returned to Anne Arundel Community College, where he taught Psychology until 2012. Even after retiring, he still tutored home-school students part-time.
 
Dale’s ultimate role, however, was family man. Dale and Marilyn, known as two peas in a pod, welcomed sweet peas Mary Elisabeth in 1969 and Katherine Anne in 1978. Dale had a natural way with children. A patient and dedicated father, he created many special memories for his daughters. In 2010, he was overjoyed to welcome his grandchild Jacob, to whom he was a devoted Poppy, role model, and best friend. For his large extended family, he always took the time to remember birthdays, send cards, research family histories, and create family trees.
 
Many of Dale’s friends were from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he was an active member of the Respect Life Committee and also the Knights of Columbus, Council 1384. He excelled at planning and implementation, using these skills in many roles including Chairman of Community Activities, such as the popular Annual Bull Roast and the Family Carnival. Beyond church service, his wide and varied interests included politics, gardening, reading, writing, and crossword puzzles.
 
Dale enjoyed a beautiful life with his wife of 50 years, Marilyn; his daughter Mary Elisabeth (Marelise) Voss, her husband James Soriano, and their son, Jacob; his daughter Katherine Anne Voss and her fiancé Christian Elkington; his siblings Laverne Voss, Maxine Patterson, and Roger Voss and their spouses; his beloved extended family; and the friends he treasured from every chapter of his life.
 
A viewing will be held Friday, August 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, Maryland. A funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday, August 13th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Street and Spa Road, Annapolis, Maryland. A luncheon will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dale’s name to Knights of Columbus Council 1384 at St. Mary’s Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401.

Dale Frederick Voss

Dale Frederick Voss

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