Donvan Dalbey

Donovan “Doc” Dalbey, 87, of Sun City, Arizona died Sunday, February 12, 2023.

Doc was born on January 7, 1936, in Barnes City, Iowa, the son of Gerald and Coral (Darland) Dalbey.  He attended Barnes City Consolidated Schools until his senior year and then graduated from Madelia Public High School in Madelia, Minnesota.  He joined the Army National Guard in St. James, Minnesota on September 23, 1953 and then joined the United States Air Force on March 15, 1955.  He served in assignments at Thule AFB, Greenland; McGuire AFB, N.J; England AFB, Louisiana; Webb AFB, Texas; Bentwaters AFB in England; Tripoli AB, Libya; Volk Field A.N.G. Base, Wisconsin; Udorn AFB in Thailand during the Vietnam War; and his last assignment was at Luke AFB, Arizona.  He retired from the Air Force on October 31, 1978.  In March, 1979 he went to work for Allied Signal Engines Corporation as an aircraft engine Quality Control Inspector until his retirement on March 31, 1998.

On May 22, 1954 Doc married Leona (Baarts) Dalbey and were married for more than 60 years and raised 2 sons.  His major joys in life were vacationing with his wife; his love of Jesus Christ; involvement in all church activities at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona; researching the genealogy of his family; making ladies jewelry; tinkering on cars; and watching his boys grow up.

Doc is survived by his sons, Steven Dalbey of Inlet Beach, Florida; Stuart Dalbey of Waddell, Arizona; one granddaughter, Lindsay (Dalbey) Darnell; and two great-granddaughters, Larissa Dalbey and Tatum Dalbey Gossner.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his brothers, Denton and Noel Dalbey; and other relatives and close friends.

He will be interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona with his loving wife on March 15, 2023.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation in Doc’s name be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.