Donald Wayne Dial, 61, Lathrop, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 30 1999, in Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO. He formerly lived in Osawatomie.

Don, as he was known, was born July 26, 1938, in Paragould Ark., a son of Mervin Lowell and Agnes Emmaline Hendrix Dial. He made his home in Paragould until the family moved to Osawatomie in 1950. He attended school there and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the class of 1958.

He then began his dedicated career with Hallmark Cards that lasted for 38 1/2 years. He and Sandra Barber were married

July 27, 1963 in Osawatomie. They became the parents of two children. They moved to Lathrop in 1972.

Mr. Dial was a graduate of Kansas City, Kansas Community College. He served in the United States Navy. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

He had a passion for working in the community and working with children through sports. He was very active in the VFW and American Legion. He enjoyed helping his friends and neighbors.

His parents and a brother preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Sandra Dial, of the home; his son, Shawn Dial, of Pleasant Valley, Mo.; a daughter, Alyssa Dial, of the home; a brother, Ray Dial, of Osawatomie; three sisters, Bobbi Whitney of Independence, Mo., Jeris Coffelt of Osawatomie, and Joe Ann Walker of Gravois Mills, Mo.; his step-mother, Dorothy Dial, of Osawatomie; three half-brothers, Ricky Dial of Olathe, Daniel Dial of Cape Girardeau, Mo. and David Dial of Paola; and three half-sisters, Debbie Ellsworth of Coffeyville, Jackie Hauber of Lawrence and Jane Manchester of Osawatomie.

Services were at 2 p.m. Monday in the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Burial was in Osawatomie Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jim Ogle, Neil Heermann, M. Daniel Dial, Doyle Kizzire, Bruce Waggoner and Leland Freeze. Honorary Bearers were Dave Brownsburger, Frank Hamilton, Vic Fletchall, Larry White, Deacon Bowers and Walter Dahl.

Memorials may be made to the Donald W. Dial Scholarship Fund.