Dale Alan Baynes Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dale Alan Baynes, age 72, of Marion, IL, passed away at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, in the Veteran’s Hospital of Marion. He was born on Sunday, March 24, 1946, near High Point, North Carolina in Forsyth County, the son of Harold Rogers Baynes and Evelyn (Hayworth) Baynes. Both preceded him in death in 1991 and 1994. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Dwight Rogers Baynes in 2007. Dale attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington before the draft in 1966. He was in the United States Army from 1966-1968. He worked in Paducah, Kentucky prior to moving to Marion, Illinois. He worked for Sears, the Cognitive Work Therapy Program at the VA, and from there began a career as a Peer Support on May 22, 2013. Dale retired from the Marion, Illinois Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a Peer Support in May 2018. He served at the VA for five years. Dale enjoyed cooking and spending time with friends. He shared jokes and memes with the Veterans he worked with and his colleagues. He was also known for being a “sharp dresser,” who sometimes had people ask if he was a doctor. He was proud of his time in the military and proud of his time at the University of Kentucky. Dale was the joyful owner of a seven series BMW and loved his car. He enjoyed showing the car to his friends and colleagues. He also enjoyed rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team. He was always engaged in conversation, always had a joke or a story, and was a true friend. Dale will be missed by all that knew him. He had several close friends who were with him until his last days on this earth. Sam Hoekstra, a fellow Peer Support, Mike O’Neal, who also retired from the VA and Peer Support program, and Kim Coloni. His good friend Sam Hoekstra spent many years with Dale at the VA. Dale spent several holidays in the Hoekstra home due to the fact that all of his family members were no longer here. The Hoekstra’s remember Dale spending two Thanksgivings and two Easters with them, always bringing some type of dessert wine to enjoy after the meal. Dale loved Sam. Although there was an age gap between them as friends and colleagues, Dale genuinely cared for Sam and his family. The same goes for Sam. Many will certainly miss hearing stories of what Dale said or what jokes Dale shared with them. When Dale and Sam facilitated groups together, they often had lunch together. Sometimes they would meet up with other colleagues who were retired. These are moments that Sam, Mike, Paul and others will cherish. Dale was a fighter. He advocated for Veterans and he cared for the Veterans he worked with at the VA and on his caseload. He enjoyed groups and often shared jokes, memes, and stories with them (and Sam) as well. Sam was his cubby/cubicle buddy. They often updated one another on sports, weather, and news in general. Dale loved to tease Sam about being a closet UK fan, and often told us about restaurants or places to go when we visited Lexington. On the Hoekstra’s last trip, Dale loved the photos they shared on Facebook, was excited they were able to stay and listen to the Coach Cal postgame show and hoped that they did not get lost in a sea of blue. He loved UK basketball. Dale was one of Sam’s colleagues, and his battle buddy. He was incredibly supportive of and proud of Sam for applying to This Able Veteran and going through a three-week trauma resiliency program. Dale was one who came to Sam’s TAV graduation in 2016. Dale loved Memphis the service dog and everyone likes to think that Memphis loved him too. Please keep the friends and colleagues of Dale Baynes in your thoughts and prayers. The past few days have been incredibly rough, and the next few days, weeks, and months will be even tougher. Many are better persons for knowing Dale, and everyone hopes he knew how much he was loved and appreciated. Arrangements for Dale Alan Baynes were entrusted to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court St., Marion. The visitation was from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at the funeral home. During the time of visitation a “Reflection of Life” DVD Memorial Tribute featuring special people, places and events in Dale’s life was presented to the family and friends. Following the time of visitation funeral service was at 7:00 p.m. with Chaplain Laron Stover presiding. Comments of memory were presented by Mike O’Neal, Kim Coloni and Sam Hoekstra. The prelude and postlude musical selections were a medley of recorded vocal selections that were favorites of Dale. Special recorded vocal musical selections presented during the service were “How Great Thou Art” by Randy Travis, “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton, “Amazing Grace” by Celtic Woman and “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill. Interment took place the following day at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 21st in Mound City National Cemetery of Mound City, IL. Those attending the committal service at the graveside gathered at the cemetery prior to 11:30 a.m. Military honors were accorded at the cemetery by Veteran Members of the Area and officers of the Illinois Army National Guard Funeral Honors Burial Detail. Presentation of the folded flags at the cemetery were to Kim Coloni and Sam Hoekstra by the Illinois Army National Guard Funeral Honors Burial Detail. For those who preferred, memorial contributions were made to either or both; “This Able Veteran” a service dog organization and/or “American Legion Post No. 147 of Marion” and mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home. Memorial envelopes were available at the funeral home. For additional information please call the funeral home at 618-993-2131.

Dale Alan Baynes

March 24, 1946 - December 12, 2018