Hubert Dale Hamblin

Hubert Dale Hamblin, 84, formally of Green River, Wyoming, passed away in Seattle, Washington at the Veterans Administration Hospital after a lingering illness. Dale, the third child of Henry Marcene and Duella Eyre Hamblin, was born May 9, 1927, in Murray, Utah with one older brother and two sisters. Dale grew up in Murray, Utah, and spent many summers with his family cutting railroad ties for the Union Pacific Railroad in the Uintas. After high school graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a nurse assistant in Boston, Massachusetts. At the end of WWII he returned to Utah and played basketball for the University of Utah and then moved to Rawlins where he ran a Spudnut shop briefly for his uncle. He then hired with Union Pacific as a fireman on the steam engines. Dale married Lois Huggins of Rawlins on August 25, 1948 ,in the Salt Lake Temple and they became the parents of five children. They lived in Rawlins for several years.

Dale was known around the state of Wyoming as a construction superintendent for L.M. Olson Construction out of Rawlins, Wyoming. He headed several jobs around Green River including the Sweetwater County Court House and the Rock Springs High School and several elementary and middle school buildings for Green River and Rock Springs. He worked on many jobs that took to several locations through out the Western United States. He retired in 1993. Dale was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held many positions that included being Bishop of the Green River 2nd Ward and serving on the High Council of the Green River Wyoming Stake.

He liked to travel and enjoyed the excitement of the trip and of course the beautiful scenery along the way. Other hobbies included woodworking, making things for his grandchildren, visiting the family cabin in the Uintas and helping his children work on some of their projects as well. Dale and Lois had moved to Boise for health care in 2009.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois (Boise, Idaho); sons, David (Karen) Hamblin of Arvada, Colorado, Mike (Kathy) Hamblin of Mountain View, Wyoming, Lee (Bonnie) Hamblin of Meridian, Idaho; daughters, Janet (Bill) Smith of Prosser, Washington, Jeraldean (Larry) Garlick of Fort Benton, Montana; 23 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; two sisters, Geri (Grant) Bangerter of Alpine, Utah, and Darlene (Noel) Anderson of Murray, Utah; and one brother, Ivan (Betty) Hamblin of Kanab, Utah. His parents and one great-grandchild precede him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 18, 2011 at the Meridian Idaho South Stake Center at 6575 S. Eagle Rd. in Meridian. Friends may call to visit with the family on Thursday, November 17th, from 6-8 p.m. at Relyea Funeral Chapel, and from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. at the church on Friday prior to the services.

Interment will follow the services at 1:00 p.m. at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. Services are under the direction of Relyea Funeral Chapel.

Published in Idaho Statesman on November 17, 2011