Dale Townsend was a senior in high school in 1971 when St. Mark CME Church in Joliet, Illinois, offered him an opportunity to go to a youth retreat. At the youth retreat, there was a roundtable discussion about what everyone aspired to be/do after graduation.

Dale said he wanted to be an electrician, but he did not know how to make that happen. One young man at the church retreat spoke up and said, "My dad is a business agent with IBEW Local 176 in Joliet. I will speak to him about you taking the test and beginning apprenticeship training to be an electrician."

Dale passed the test, completed apprenticeship training and successfully became a journeyman electrician. What a blessing to the family! Dale retired in 2004.

He wrote a book called "Someone Needs To" because that is what he always said. Unfortunately, he passed on Sept. 4, 18 days before his book arrived. Dale fought courageously with heart failure, diabetes and two amputations. He will be fondly remembered as always smiling and always telling jokes.

Debralee Townsend
Joliet, Ill.