Dale Kelley Canfield
04/08/1933 - 10/04/2017

~~ Dale Kelley Canfield

Dale Kelley Canfield, 84, of Chatham Borough, died peacefully with family members at his side, on October 4, after a strong fight following a stroke on August 31. He grew up in Fayetteville, AR and was the son of the late Dwight and Vivian Canfield. Dale graduated from the U of AR with a B.S. Mechanical Engineering and he received a M.S. Mechanical Engineering from GA Tech. He also continued education at Stevens Institute of Technology. He was a registered Professional Engineer in Arkansas and New Jersey. He was an Honorary Charter Member of Arkansas Academy of Mechanical Engineering.

Primary among his activities– Dale served his beloved Methodist Church in various roles throughout his entire life—including Covenant Choir member for 53 years, Stephen Ministry, Board of Trustees, oversaw the restoration of the church piano which was left by Leola Anderson, upgrade of the Schantz organ, and helped in numerous other areas. He was an avid sailor with the Swartswood Yacht Club and won many racing trophies and served as Director, News Editor and Treasurer. He helped found Job Seekers in Chatham and was a Board member of Suburban Music Study Club. He also enjoyed photography and his camera was readily available.

His proudest professional moment, at age 27, was being the youngest Assistant Professor hired at the U of AR where he taught Thermodynamics and received an award for being the “Toughest Professor.” His professional employment included: DuPont Savannah River Plant; McDonnell Aircraft and worked on flotation ring for the Mercury Space Capsule; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory, Dahlgren VA; Celanese Research Corp, research engineer where he invented and demonstrated non-woven fiber products including a new a cigarette filter. He also worked for over 35 years in sales of large industrial Air Pollution Control Systems for steel and other industries with companies that included: JWP Air Technologies, Krupp Wilputte, Marotta Scientific Controls, Berkeley Applied Sciences, Chemico Air Pollution Control, MikroPul. He was a Rube Goldberg as he would not quit until he figured out a way to make it work. He was very diligent, patient and precise.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 58 years, Nan Canfield; daughter, Eloise (fiancé), son, Douglas (Aimee), and grandson, Landon; special nieces and nephews; and, many friends and colleagues from his personal and professional life and volunteer activities.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chatham United Methodist Church, 460 Main Street, Chatham. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CUMC and earmarked “Organ Re-leathering Fund” in memory of Dale Canfield, 460 Main Street, Chatham NJ 07928. He saw to it that the piano and the organ were well maintained.

For further information, or to send the family a note of condolence, visit www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.


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