Tulsa, Oklahoma - Dale Junior McBride was born in Canute, OK, on February 9, 1928, the second child to Virgil and Alma Eddings McBride. He grew up working farms with his family, spending much of his childhood in the broomcorn fields of Lindsay, OK. Dale was raised in the Church of Christ as his grandfather James David McBride was a preacher. Dale began working more to help support the family after graduating 7th grade. By age 16 he was a supervisor in Ponca City, OK, at a textile company making uniforms for the war effort.

Dale enlisted in the Army Air Corps just weeks before he would have been drafted. He served as an airplane mechanic at the end of WWII from February 1946 until May 1949, leaving a piece of his heart in Germany. After returning home to Ponca City and a job at Conoco Refinery, he went with his friend Lewis Hatfield to see Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys on a night that would reshape his life. That night of dancing left him smitten with Alta Marie Melvin; just one week later they were married on September 10, 1949, at his in-law's home. Dale and Alta would later move to Enid, Oklahoma, when he accepted a position at Champlin Refinery where he would spend the next 35 years until he retired as a Foreman Supervisor.

They raised their four children in Enid and Carrier, OK, while very involved in school activities such as chaperoning school dances, donkey basketball, and sporting events. Dale has lived up to his reputation as a man with incredible work ethic. He always had multiple jobs going at the same time, including his hard work on Earnie's farm. But he could plan vacation time better than anyone. When Dale and Alta were exploring the country in their RV, Alta would be the trusted navigator with the giant Atlas in her lap. Their routes were planned as to visit their many friends and family along the journey and often had grandchildren in tow.

Crafting projects (like the colorful garden pot lamps), Louis L'Amour western novels, and a love of fishing helped pass the time on those beloved camping trips. Dale has always been active, finding adventure wherever he went: cycling the Texas Hill Country, skiing the Alps, parasailing in the Caribbean, water skiing Lake Tenkiller as well as jumping out of a moving boat just for laughs, climbing an iceberg while on an Alaskan Cruise, even accidentally driving through the L.A. Watts Riots. The adventures continued throughout his life.

After retiring from Champlin Refinery in 1982, they moved to Point Comfort, Texas, and he began a new career at AIRCO while capturing the community's affection with the annual "Candy Cane Lane" Christmas decorations at home. When retirement came again, they moved to Trophy Gardens in Alamo, TX. They loved their group tours into Mexico, beach trips, community dinners, and of course the dances! He would dance the night away with his lifelong dance partner, Alta. They ruled the floor with the jitterbug!

Dale and Alta made many moves after Trophy Gardens to be closer to family. In 2013 his wife of 64 years passed away, then Dale made one final move back to Oklahoma. Dale found new purpose for the next decade helping great-grandkids, dog-sitting and making daily memories with his oldest son, lots of grandkids, and extended family. Sunday breakfast at Crescent Café brought him so much joy. Trips to the nail salon with his great-granddaughter, Anna, became a favorite part of his routine. He made road trips back to south Texas on his own into his 90s, even continued his daily workouts and living independently until he passed at the age of 97 after breaking his hip from a fall at home. Dale McBride was a stubborn, compassionate, determined, funny, organized, and handsome man who prioritized the love for his family before anything ... except baseball. He loved his Texas Rangers!! After they won the World Series in 2024, he stopped watching baseball because his life was complete.

Dale is survived by daughter Sherry Wiser and Adam Ruiz, daughter Brenda and Randy Willems, son Denis McBride, son Joel and Jane McBride; siblings Jack and Jodi McBride, Lawana Mae and Tom Clinton; grandchildren Jimmy, Jason, William, Brandelyn, Chea, Chad, Autumn, Joseph, Jennifer, Ryan, Marc, Sean, Stephanie, and Chris; great-grandchildren Bryan, Brandon, Taylor, Keeley, Arabella, Anthony, Bryson, Bailee, Adeline, Logan, Noah, Conner, Alice, Margaret, Anna, Rachel, Olivia, Emerson, Noah, DJ, Eleanor, Quinton, Jarrod, and Jordan; great-great-granddaughters Lillie and Luna; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends whom he adored.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil McBride and Alma Eddings McBride; wife Alta Marie Melvin McBride; siblings Natoma McBride Scruggs, Lavora McBride Short, Doyle McBride, Dwight McBride, Annetta McBride Monse; and grandson Jeremiah Willems.

A celebration of life will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026, at The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, 1801 N McKinley Ave Rd., Sand Springs, OK.