Maxwell

Dale Maxwell, 89 of Dimmitt, Texas, passed away on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, in Dimmitt, Texas. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date with local arrangements being under the care of Colonial Funeral Home.

Troyce Dale Maxwell was born on the family farm on July 4, 1932, in Castro County.

After graduation from Dimmitt High School, Dale attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where he graduated with a Degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1954. While attending college, he met and married Becky Northcut and they went on to have 4 children together.

Around 1954 and after graduation from college, Dale was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was sent to Chicago, IL as an army technical supervisor, helping to implement the Nike Missile Program on the Chicago Harbor. Close to the end of his tour of duty, he returned to Ft Bliss in El Paso, Texas. While there, he trained and qualified for the helicopter program and could have continued on with the military, but he decided to return to the Texas panhandle. Soon after, Dale taught in the Ag department at Texas Tech University and eventually return to the family farm.

In 1962, Dale was recognized for his innovative farming practices and awarded the first ever Outstanding Young Farmer of Castro County Award. As time went by, he purchased more acreage near Flagg, Texas and leased other sections of farmland. At one time, he had a very large carrot operation and was recognized as the Largest Individual Grower of carrots for Campbell Soup and Gerber Baby Foods in the U.S. in the 1970’s.

In the 1960’s, Dale received his pilot’s license and later earned his full Instrument Rating. Through the years, he flew his family to visit distant relatives or to vacation in places such as the Arizona, the Gulf Coast, California, Disney Land and Jackson Hole Wyoming. Later, Dale used his piloting skills to volunteer for service in the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, Amarillo Division. Eventually, he earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retired in the 1980’s after 18 years of service. He flew many, many missions in his Cessna 210, helping to search for lost and missing aircraft across Texas and beyond.

In 1978, Dale met the love of his life, Elsie Cooper Moore. They were married September 28, 1979. In the early eighties, Dale and Elsie planted a very large apple and peach orchard (over 3000 trees). They both worked hard for over 20 years selling a variety of peaches, apples, commercially produced apple cider and farm-to-table vegetables from a stand on the farm, farmers markets and numerous other venues. In 1993, the Fort Worth Star Telegram awarded them the Farm and Ranch Award for Texas Best Apples.

Along with full-time work on the farm, Dale and Elsie received a mail route contract from the United States Postal Service and delivered mail south of Dimmitt for several years.

In 2005, they decided it was time to slow down. So, Dale and Elsie sold the farm and the fruit orchard, moved to town and semi-retired. Not long after, Dale decided to start a clipper blade sharpening business. Dale’s Clipper Service cleaned and sharpened blades for numerous cattle and horse operations, as well as hair salons in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas all from their backyard shop. He enjoyed working with his hands and could fix anything. As a talented welder, implement designer and fabricator, Dale made or modified many of the pieces of farm equipment (large and small) he used throughout his life. He always said he was a tinkerer at heart.

Dale passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 8 after a prolonged decline in health.

The family would like to express gratitude to all of those who have reached out and conveyed their love and support at this time.

Dale is survived by his wife, Elsie Maxwell; his brother, Don (Carol) Maxwell; his daughter, Susan Maxwell; his son, Brien Maxwell; his daughter, Beth (Ray) Barron; his son, Ed (Rachael) Maxwell; stepdaughters, Darenda (Rick) Bentley, Terri (Russell) Winsor, Traci (Wesley) Logan; and many grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and many other loved ones.

Dale is proceeded in death by his parents, Troy Maxwell and Lewella Maxwell; along with great-granddaughter, Megan Maxwell.