Dale Weldon Spaulding, age 71, passed away on December 12, 2020, at Kalakaua Gardens in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was born November 7, 1949, in Sinclairville, New York. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in German Language from SUNY, Fredonia. He earned Masters degrees from UH Manoa in Education and Administration.Dale had a great interest in adventure and travel. He served in the Peace Corps from 1971 - 1973 in the Marshall Islands. He studied in Germany and Japan and visited several countries in Europe and Asia. Dale also visited relatives and attended conferences/conventions around the country.
Dale worked 27 years in the Hawaii Department of Education. He was a Foreign Language Teacher at Aiea High School. He then worked as Resource Teacher in Foreign Languages. One of his tasks was to develop and produce Japanese language videos for the DOE. He was one of four Vice Principals at Farrington High School. His last position before retirement was as Principal of Kaewai Elementary School in Kalihi. He was well respected by students and faculty in all of his work in education. Dale also was a businessman owning and renting out 3 condominiums.
Dale was quite athletic and enjoyed walking, running, and swimming, until his health declined from the effects of Parkinson's Disease. Some of the events he participated include: the Great Aloha Run, Honolulu Marathon, Kolekole Pass Half Marathon, H-3 Run, Volcano Run, Circle Oahu Relay, Ford Island Bridge Run, Honolulu Triathlon, Tin Man Triathlon, and Century Bike. Many of these events he participated with his life partner, Gene. He was a member of Honolulu FrontRunners/FrontWalkers and Like Hike which are both LGBT sporting groups.
Although Dale would not have described himself as a dancer, he started country western dancing in 1991 with the group Blazing Saddles, an LGBT group. This is where he met his life partner, Gene. This included two-step, waltz, line-dance, and swing. He was the leader while Gene was the follower. Dale and Gene would go every Tuesday night to the Ala Wai Palladium to dance. When his health declined due to Parkinson's, he could no longer dance but enjoyed watching Gene and the other Blazing Saddles member's dance.
Dale had a great interest in arts and culture. He was an avid reader, reading all kinds of books from novels to biographies. He was an opera lover and was a season ticket holder for HOT (Hawaii Opera Theater). He also attended operas performed in San Francisco, Chautauqua, and Seattle (Wagner's Ring Cycle). He enjoyed musicals and plays at MVT (Manoa Valley Theater), TAG (The Actor's Group), and DHT (Diamond Head Theater). Dale also enjoyed attending classical concerts to see Gene who sang with the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and the Oahu Choral Society.
Dale was not a very religious but joined Gene in the organization Dignity Honolulu, LGBTQI Catholics. He attended weekly services with Gene and participated in their social activities including dining and movie nights. He supported other LGBT community events and fundraisers and testified as some of the hearings supported same gender marriage.
Dale's friends and relatives will remember him for his enjoyment of life and sense of humor. He was conscientious and was known for being focused in any project or task including his athletic endeavors. He was a loving and supportive to his family and friends, especially to his life partner/husband, Gene,
He was preceded in death by his father, Elton Marvin Spaulding and mother, Gladys Mae Bailey Spaulding. He is survived by his husband, Eugenio (Gene) Corpuz, brothers, Elton "Wayne" Spaulding, and Dennis Spaulding, and sister, Kathy Spaulding, as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 2062 S. King St. Seating and parking is limited. Visitation at 9:30 a.m., program at 10:30 a.m. Burial and transfer of ashes will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the Pikake Room at the Diamond Head Memorial Park Cemetery. Aloha attire. Those attending must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and COVID protocols will be followed. For those unable to attend, please email Gene Corpuz for zoom link information at gcorpuz15@aol.com. Please send any correspondence to Gene Corpuz, 1624 Dole St., #1503, Honolulu HI 96822. For further information please call Gene at 808-779-1965.
Arrangements Provided By: DIAMOND HEAD MORTUARY
