Dale D. Ketcham

“It’s when you smell the breeze, taste the salt and feel the waves beneath your feet that you truly know that you are alive.”
-Anthony T. Hincks
Dale Dennis Ketcham, who loved the sea nearly as much as his family and friends, passed away Wednesday, September 5th as the result of a cardiac arrest following a brief illness. He was 76.
Dale was born on May 3rd, 1942 in San Pedro, Ca, the only child of Frank and Emma Mae Ketcham. He grew up in North Long Beach working at his father’s service station on Orange Ave., surfing and racing motorcycles. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1960 and served in the Coast Guard for two years. In 1964 he married Judee Marone and together they had two sons, Chris and Rodney.
Dale worked in the petro-chemical field and soon found his niche, opening Mechanical Seal Repair in 1972. Located in Signal Hill, he so enjoyed running his company that he continued to work right up until his illness. He was extremely proud to have both of his sons working alongside him and was comforted to know MSR would be in good hands after he was gone.
Seal Beach became Dale’s home in 1976, where he lived in the trailer park, later buying a house on Island View Dr. and finally settling at the highest point on the hill. In 1989 Dale married Deborah Ison and together they shared a happy life boating over to Catalina, playing with their rabbit, Bernie, cruising around in one of his favorite cars and attending his grandsons’ many events. Dale also enjoyed playing golf with his buddies, chatting on the phone, eating out, joining AA meetings, and his cherished afternoon naps.
Dale is survived by his wife, Deborah, his son Chris (and wife Wendy) Ketcham, grandsons Ryan, Duke, Lucas and Bobby, son Rodney (and wife Katherine) Ketcham, granddaughter Summer Bouslog and his bunny-buddy Bernie, who will miss his middle of the night pets.
Funeral services will be held at Green Hills Memorial Park in Palos Verdes on Sat., Sept. 15 at 11:30am. Memorials may be sent to The Catalina Conservancy, Helen Sanders Cat PAWS in Seal Beach or WAGS pet adoption in Westminster.