Dale Lee Harper, age 85, of Riverton, passed away at his home Tuesday, April 15, 2025, following an extended illness.
Born January 29, 1940, in a log cabin in Riverton, he was a son of the late J. Paul Harper and Mary Adams Vandevender.
On April 17, 1965, Dale married Shirley Mae Mallow Harper, who survives.
Dale graduated from Circleville High School in 1958 and was a member of the North Fork Baptist Church. After graduation, he worked for the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, for quite a few years. Then he moved back to West Virginia and attended the West Virginia State Corrections Academy. He worked for the Huttonsville Correctional Center for 11 years. Not wanting to stay idle, he began driving a school bus for the Pendleton County Board of Education where he enjoyed the day-to-day interactions with the students until his retirement in 2002. In his spare time, you could find Dale on the river fishing for trout.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Greer; and his step-father, William Mackie Vandevender.
In addition to his wife, Dale leaves behind to cherish his memory, a daughter, Sandra Waldron (Randy), of Petersburg; son, Mark Harper (Tammy), of Petersburg; sisters, Kay Newbrough (Freddie), of Shinnston, and Jo Ann Gilardi (Michael), of Thornwood; brothers, William Vandevender (Mary Ann), of Frank, Daniel Vandevender, of Bartow, David Vandevender (Donna), of Durbin, Dallas Vandevender (Becky), of Green Bank, and Douglas Vandevender (Amy), of Thornwood; brother-in-law, Fred Greer; grandchildren, Kelsey Longbon (Dalton), Kensey Har-per, Alex and Adrianna Waldron.
The funeral was held Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Basagic Funeral Home Chapel in Petersburg. with Rev. Mike Clements officiating.
Interment was in the North Fork Memorial Cemetery, Riverton.
Memorials may be made to the North Fork Baptist Church, POB 46 Riverton, WV 26814. Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com