Dale Eugene Rushton, 86, of Canby, passed away April 7.

Dale was born Aug.13, 1930, in Oberlin, Kan., and raised in Konona, Kan. He moved to Oregon with his family in 1941. He graduated from Benson High School in Portland and attended Van-Port College (now Portland State University) and the University of Oregon, graduating with a master’s degree in education. He was honorably discharged from three branches of the United States military: Marine Corps Reserve, Naval Cadet program, and the United States Navy .

Dale married Lillian Leikauf in 1952. They had three children, Tom, Denise, and Gretchen. Dale and Lil were divorced in 1976. He met Alyson Dale (Wilson) Rushton when they worked together as educators in Alaska, and they were married in 1981.

Dale worked as a teacher and school administrator in Tiller, Myrtle Creek, and Bend. He moved to Alaska in 1976 and served as principal of Barrow High School, Atqasuk Elementary and High School, Kiana Elementary and High School, and Ambler Elementary and High School.  He retired in 1985 and returned to Oregon, coming to reside in Diamond in 1986. He and his wife moved to Canby in 2014.

Dale was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and trapping. He enjoyed trap shooting and sponsored an annual shoot in the Diamond community every Thanksgiving. He was generous with his expertise and helped many a friend and neighbor.

Dale is survived by his wife of 35 years, Alyson Dale Rushton; brother, Richard (Duane) and wife, Anica Rushton of Lafayette, Calif.; son and wife, Tom and Julie Rushton of Canby; daughters and their husbands, Denise and Tim Brown of Vacaville, Calif., and Gretchen and Duane Pippitt of Redmond; four grandchildren and their spouses, and five great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Elmer and Lillie Rushton; sister, Betty Lee Wickman; and grandson, Joshua Brown.

Honoring Dale’s request, there will be no service. A celebration of his life will held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances are encouraged to:  Bristol Hospice (http://bristolfoundation.org/donation-page/) , Sacred Flight (http://www.sacredflight.org/donation.shtml), Dogs for the Deaf (https://www.dogsforthedeaf.org/donate/), Burns Butte Sportsman Club Inc. (P.O. Box 912, Hines, OR 97738), or Grant County Shooting Sports Club, Inc. (P.O. Box 654, John Day, OR 97845).