Dale Ray Cleveland passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, May 16, 2026, surrounded by his close family. Following a long and hard-fought battle with medical complications, he is finally at rest.

A memorial service to celebrate Dale’s life and legacy will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Springtown Church of Christ, 316 Church St., Springtown, TX 76082. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m.

In honor of Dale’s lifelong commitment to education and his community, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations of backpacks filled with school supplies be brought to the church to be distributed continuing Dale’s service to the youth in the local community.

He was born April 15, 1957, in Amarillo. A graduate of Friona High School, Dale went on to play basketball for Amarillo Junior College and then Texas Wesleyan University. It was there he met the love of his life and wife of 46 years, Kathy Bates. Driven by a passion for leadership and teaching, Dale later earned his Master of Education from Texas Woman’s University.

Immediately after college, Dale launched a long and distinguished career as a coach. He began making an impact in small towns like Groom before going on to lead programs at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst and eventually landing in Springtown. After stepping away from the sidelines, Dale transitioned into school administration for Springtown ISD, where he faithfully served the community for many years until his retirement in 2010.

In his retirement, Dale found joy in the simple pleasures of life: hunting, fishing, cooking and making his signature jerky. Above all, his greatest joy was his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, W.L. “Dub” Cleveland.

Dale is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy; his children and their spouses, Jarrod and Claire, and Colton and Shae; his mother, Virginia; his sister and brother-in-law, Cindy and John; and his cherished grandchildren, Scarlet, Dalton, Espen and Renley.