Cecil "Gale" Chamberlin

Cecil “Gale” Chamberlin, 86 passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2010 at home, with family at his side. Gale was born December 20, 1923 in Eagleville, Harrison County, Missouri and was the youngest of four children born to Cecil LaDuke and Elsie May (Smith) Chamberlin. Gale moved to Des Moines at the age of two months, and graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1942. He married his high school sweetheart, Estalene M. Bogue, on June 20 of that same year, and to that union were born four children, Linda, David, Ric, and Greg.

After high school Gale worked for the Western Electric Company as an electrician, and in 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific as Petty Officer First Class, Electricians’ Mate aboard the US PC-1455. For the years of 1944 and 1945, Gale’s ship served as Minesweeper, Submarine Detection, Communication Command, and Convoy Escort during the Pacific Island Invasions of Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

After the war in 1945 Gale began working at Northwestern Bell, spending most of his years as supervisor in the main Switch Room and Design Engineer until his retirement in 1982. Gale was a member of the Park Avenue Christian Church since 1946 and served as Church Elder, Board Member, and member of the Chancel Choir, and Men’s Quartet. He was a First-Aid Instructor for the Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of America.

Gale enjoyed singing, square dancing, and had a love of nature and the mountains, that he shared with his family on numerous vacations. He was an Electrician, Carpenter, Plumber, Auto Mechanic, always accepting any challenge. Gale loved his family, his wife, his daughters, his sons, and his grandchildren, and all loved him in return.

Gale is survived by his wife Estalene, his daughter Linda Chamberlin, sons David E. and Greg M. Chamberlin, and son-in-law Brian Ohrberg of Des Moines, son Ric K., daughter-in-law Susan (Bassett), and grandson Christopher R. Chamberlin of Omaha, NE, and granddaughter Cari Lin (Ryan) Johnson of Oklahoma city, OK. Gale was preceded in death by his parents, brothers George Edward and Gilbert Darryl Chamberlin, and sister Thelma Valerie (Chamberlin) Stark.

Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Friday April 23, 2010, with family present from 6-8 p.m. at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday April 24, 2010 at Park Avenue Christian Church. Gale will be interred at the Berwick Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Park Avenue Christian Church Music Department.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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