Melvin "Dale" Way, 86, of Aledo, Ill., passed away Sunday May 20, 2018 at home.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan, Ill., with visitation prior to services from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Inurnment, with military honors presented by the Aledo American Legion Post 121, will be in National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Melvin Dale Way was born July 22, 1931 in Decatur, Nebraska, a son of Harvey and Margie Mallette Way. He graduated from Craig High School in 1949. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was an Air Force pilot and weather forecaster. He did air flight surveys over enemy territory, often at night, and daytime photographing of Korean territory.

Dale and L. June Payne were united in marriage in 1988 in Sherrard, Ill.

In earlier years, he was a professional driver for Hunt Transportation. He then worked in fire investigation and security for I.H. Farmall Works for over 20 years. Following his retirement from Farmall, he was a driver for Central Transport.

Dale was an active member of Aledo American Legion, Post 121. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling and was an avid card player. He loved spending time with friends and family, especially his grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife, June, of Aledo; children (and spouses), Conniedale (Jim) Peck, Ozark, Mo., Ronald D. Way, Moline, Ill., and Kenneth (Sally) Way, Silvis, Ill.; stepchildren, LeAnne Guyton, Milan, Ill., Christine (Tom) Brower, Bloomingdale, Ga., Carla (Mark) Britton, Ft. Lewis, Wash., and Jodi Herzberg, Galesburg, Ill.; twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Lorena "Lori" Way; and two brothers, Gary and John Way.