Dale Frank Metz sailed off peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on the afternoon of December 8, 2010. Dale loved the Tri-Cities, with its three rivers and sunny days, and he especially loved to go boating. It was a life-long dream that started in a row boat with his dad on a lake in Nebraska, culminating into a successful family boat business. Dale was born to Guy Sr. and Pearl Metz on April 18, 1916, in Alliance, Nebraska. Dale spent his childhood with his brother, Guy Jr., and sisters, Eunice, Betty, and Norma, working on the family farm, doing other odd jobs and going to school. He graduated from high school in Bridgeport, NE in 1934. From there he moved to Kearney where he worked for Gamble's Department Store for six years, becoming assistant manager. Dale's first son, Kay, was born in Kearney in 1939. After World War II broke out, Dale heard there were job opportunities at the Hanford Project in Richland, Washington, and got a job working as a security officer for the Atomic Energy Commission in May of 1943. He patrolled the perimeter of Hanford on a motorcycle and was soon advanced to the rank of sergeant in the Emergency Officers Group. During these early years in Richland, Dale was blessed with a second son, Gary. After the war was over in 1946, Dale was transferred over to the original Richland Police Department. During this time, Dale borrowed money to buy his first boat, a Garwood Speedboat. He had always dreamed of owning a boat and loved being around the water. To supplement his income, Dale started a driver's training school, and also started a "boat ride" business at a $1 a ride to help pay off his first boat. He would even do waterskiing shows for the public, and he always said he was probably one of the first to water ski on the Columbia River. On October 4, 1953, Dale married Marion Frafford at Central United Protestant Church in Richland. The following year, Dale quit the Richland Police Department and started Metz Marina on Clover Island. Times were rough starting up a new business, especially a boat business. Still, Dale persevered and his business began to grow. In 1955, Dale and Marion were blessed with a son, Lynn, and in 1964, their daughter, Leiah, was born. Metz Marina was a family business which thrived for approximately 50 years. Dale loved his job, because he was "living the dream". He always enjoyed interacting with people and he loved taking perspective buyers out for a test drive in a boat. He loved to promote this area and was especially proud of the Columbia River, or as he liked to call it "Lake Wallula". Being a visionary, he wanted to see the Tri-Cities grow and prosper, and saw the waterway and Clover Island as very valuable assets for tourism. Always the promoter, he helped organize the Richland Yacht Club, the first unlimited hydroplane boat races in 1966, and also started the first boat show in the Tri-Cities. Dale also helped form the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, formally known as the Tourist and Convention Bureau. Dale loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends. He also liked the snow and enjoyed skiing, snowmobiling, and ice skating. With all of that, Dale still found time to travel and he and Marion took many trips overseas. He especially loved going to Israel, Egypt and the Caribbean. He even traveled to China by himself at the age of 78. He loved to travel and was intrigued by beautiful sites, people and their cultures. As busy as Dale was, he still had time to participate in a number of different organizations and causes. Dale was a member of the First Christian Church, Elks, Shriners, Masonic Organizations, Chamber of Commerce, Kennewick Downtown Merchant Association, Tri-City Marine Dealers Association, Tri-City Figure Skating Club, Coast Guard Auxiliary, of which he was a lifetime member, to name a few. He had a passion for helping children, and working with the Columbia Basin Shriners, he helped get many children the care they needed at the Shriners Hospitals. In 1986, Dale led a project with the Columbia Basin Shrine Club, to raise $10, 000 to place a 15-by-25 foot flag on top of the blue bridge. This flag was to be lit up at night and placed on a 50-foot pole. Dale was very involved in the Water Follies and helped bring in attractions like the Blue Angels fly squadron. He also inspired members of the community to buy enough season tickets for the first year's ice hockey games to assure businessmen, who were going to erect the stadium, that there was enough public interest. His goals were reached and we now have a stadium to this day, to enjoy the hockey games and many other public events. Dale had sparkling blue eyes that were full of life and he was always quick with a smile. He was a very charming man who liked to have fun with people, often playing practical jokes on them. He loved God and all of His creation, and liked to share this appreciation with others. Music and singing were passions of his, and he took pleasure in entertaining the kids by playing the harmonica. He loved and was very proud of his family, and enjoyed many family get-togethers. He led a life full of adventure, hard work, fun play, but above all that, Dale got to live his dream. He was loved and will be greatly missed by all. Dale is preceded in death by his parents, and his son, Gary. He is survived by his wife, Marion, sons Kay Viva, Lynn Robin; and daughter Leiah Chris. Also surviving Dale are his 14 grandchildren Mark Culverhouse, Neila Reining, LaNisha Metz, Charity Johnson, Tricia Porter, Christa Bean, Michael Metz, Kylie Freeman, Sarah Matson, Josh Peale, Connor Peale, Ryan, Rorey and Emily Kuemper; and 11 great-grandchildren. Dale is also survived by his brother Guy Metz, Jr.; sisters, Eunice Burry, Betty McFarland, and Norma Dasher. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Canyon Lakes Restorative and Rehabilitation Center for their excellent care. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, at 10th & Union Street in Kennewick. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a children's charity of your choice.