Dale Coultas, 96, of Methow, Wash., passed away Jan. 5, 2010, at home. He was born Aug 11, 1913, on a farm near Reading, Minn., to Marguerite Elizabeth (Kinsman) and Roy Walter Coultas.
     In March 1918, the family moved to Emmetsburg, Iowa. Because Roy Coultas was a farm laborer, the family moved many times, but remained in Northwestern Iowa. Dale graduated from Ware High School in June, 1932.
     After working briefly as a farm laborer, he enlisted in the US Navy in 1936. His first assignment was with the Mine Force Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
     On Dec. 7, 1941, he was serving on board the destroyer USS Ramsay (DM16), and so became a Pearl Harbor survivor. The ship had the "Ready Duty" that day and was the 2nd ship to steam out of Pearl Harbor during the attack. Dale was Machinist Mate 1st Class.
     In 1948, he married Nina Elvira Martin at the Submarine Base Chapel in the US Naval Shipyard, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
     His Naval career ended in October 1968 when he received an honorable discharge for over 32 years of service, having attained the rank of chief warrant officer 4.
     In December 1968, he earned a Merchant Marine license as chief engineer of steam or diesel driven ships.
     On Jan. 1, 1969, he signed on board the Thomas G. Thompson, a marine research ship of University of Washington, as 1st assistant engineer and later became Chief Engineer and finally port engineer.
     As a Merchant Marine, he sailed on cargo ships hauling ammunition and supplies during the Vietnam Conflict. He also worked for Foss Tug of Tacoma, Wash., hauling supply barges to the North Slope oil field. He retired from many years as a seaman while working for Global Marine, where as chief engineer he worked on deep-sea drilling ships developing the North Sea Oil Field off Scotland.
     He also helped manage a large ranch in Arizona for Evelyn and Jerry Williams, his younger sister and her husband.
     He next settled with Nina in Methow. in 1979, and together they began a new career as orchardists. The Bar C Orchard grew award-winning apples and pears.
     Dale was an avid sports fan and loyal supporter of the Seattle Sonics, Mariners and Seahawks. Throughout his life, he enjoyed fishing.
     He was a skilled hunter and outdoorsman. He loved hiking and few could keep up with him even in his later years. He enjoyed cutting fire wood and always had plenty for the winter. Dale was a true gentleman and had many friends. His life was one of service, never considering his own needs but always how he could better the lives of those around him. Everyone was drawn into the stories he told of his childhood, youth, farm experiences, naval career and hunting excursions. He had a keen memory and could relate the clearest details of his life.
     He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nina Coultas; children, Sandra (Bill) Sparks, Cle Elum, Wash.; Diane (Bob) Bowlin, Seattle, Bill (Sandy) Coultas, Olympia; Kevin (Susan) Coultas, Brier, Wash., Lori (Jerry) Hixson, Carlton, Wash.; two brothers, Gene (Ruth) Coultas of Florida and Don Coultas of Concord, Calif.; grandchildren, Selena (David) Young, David (Marie) Sparks, Kendall (Dua) Coultas, Jeffrey Bowlin, Katie Jordan, Amber (Andrew Richardson) Hixson, Chris Bowlin, Emily (Kaplan Bunce) Coultas, Tawny Hixson, Charlie Coultas, Ted Coultas, Brady Coultas, Tim Coultas and Leah Church; great-grandchildren, Scott, Acacia, and Emma Young, Molly and Luke Jordan, Sai Coultas, Violet and Clover Bunce; and numerous nieces and nephews.
     He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Coultas; mother, Marguerite Coultas; sisters, Dorothy Svuba and Evelyn (Jerry) Williams.
     Interment will be with military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash., later this year.
     Memorials may be made to Our House - Cancer Care, P.O. Box 2044, Wenatchee, WA 98807.