Charles Dale Lassiter, age 91, of Russellville, a lifelong Arkansan, gracefully accepted his physical limitations for over a decade before his recent death in Russellville where he had been attentively cared for in his home. He never gave up running his race in life and finished well.

Born in Monticello, the only child of Curtis and Ada Mae Maxwell, he grew up to be a good athlete, setting Arkansas state track records at Monticello High School where he was valedictorian and president of his Senior Class. His college basketball career started at the University of Arkansas then he earned a basketball scholarship to play at LSU, where he graduated with a degree in engineering and an MBA.  He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Boyd White in 1957.  From Baton Rouge they moved to Heber Springs, where he began his 36-year career with the Corps of Engineers and their children, Cindy and Curt were born.

He was an agricultural engineer who plied his skills in Arkansas at the challenge of one of his college professors to invest in the state.  As a young engineer, Dale was involved in the construction of Greer's Ferry Dam and Hydro power plant, moving onto construction of several locks and dams on the Arkansas River. He served as a project engineer for Murray Lock and Dam in Little Rock before becoming Chief of Navigation and assistant Resident Engineer for the Dardanelle Resident Office. There he was charged with hydrographic surveying, operation of a marine repair center, two floating plants, an underwater dive team and a heavy maintenance unit.

Upon his selection as the Resident Engineer of the Russellville Project Office, he became responsible for the management of the largest field office in the US Army Corps of Engineers, which managed construction projects like Brewer Lake and the Holla Bend Wildlife Refuge, in addition to the operation and maintenance of two Hydro power plants, six locks and dams, levees and flood control projects extending through 14 counties from Little Rock to Fort Smith. Teams working under his supervision supported national natural disaster responses throughout the United States while supporting communities throughout Arkansas with emergency flood support.

In addition to operational responsibilities, he procured army surplus materials to build local Corps parks to include lighted tennis courts, a baseball field, picnic areas, and jogging trails. He designed the Bona Dea Trail and Sanctuary on Lake Dardanelle and may or may not be responsible for its alligator population.

Dale was a much-respected leader who invested in staff developing their potential and upward mobility, while encouraging their participation in community-based organizations.

He was a founding member of City Corporation in Russellville and as a member of the Kiwanis Club always enjoyed frying eggs for the annual pancake breakfast. He and Nancy were active in the United Methodist Church. For over 43 years they hosted a weekly Covenant group in their home. Married for 67 years, they were best friends and bridge partners until her death in 2024. Her absence has been palpable.

He was kind and fair and frugal. He was creative and resourceful.   He was competitive.  He and Nancy were competitive tennis players and enjoyed golf in retirement. He was resilient and despite being given every reason in the world to do so, never let a complaint slip from his lips.  He was content with all that he had and all that he did not.  He somehow made living, in light of the coming eternity, seem a simple task.

Canned goods and perishables never went out of date in his pantry. The lure of a good sale never tested him unless it was for Yarnell's vanilla ice cream. He never needed anything but appreciated thoughtfulness, Community dark roast coffee, and a good hand of bridge. He indulged a sweet tooth enabled by Nancy's cooking. An avid Razorback fan, he and Doug Lowery set the record for continuous game attendance traveling the Pig Trail in ice, snow and rain. In spite of being a very smart man, he suffered a chronic inability to remember birthdays. He never missed an opportunity to send financial advice publications to our mailboxes.

A man of few words, he communicated with suffocatingly powerful hugs, a well-timed wink and grin and unceasing selfless generosity of his time, energy and resources.  His laugh was rich and infectious with eyes bright and kind and curious to the end.  Above all else, he loved fiercely, was slow to anger, possessed a gentle and generous spirit, and was faithful to pray for those he loved. When playing cards, as in life, he was never dealt a hand that was not worthy of a strong bid.  How lucky are we to have been loved by a man such as this.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Boyd White Lassiter.

He is survived by his children, Cynthia Lynn Lassiter, MD, of Birmingham, Alabama, and Curtis Boyd (Kay) of Little Rock; grandchildren, Judson Marshall (Emily) Smith, of Dallas, Texas, Camille (Tate) Smith Johnson, of Knoxville Tennessee, Harrison Baker Smith, MD, of Nashville, Tennessee, Sarah Catherine Lassiter and Emma Grace Lassiter of Little Rock; great- grandchildren, Harper Rosemary, Eloise Teal, and Oliver Wells Smith of Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Manna House, Russellville First United Methodist Church, 304 South Commerce Ave, Russellville, AR  72801.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Russellville First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Tony Griffin officiating.

Burial will be private in Oakland Cemetery in Monticello.

Arrangements are under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

Online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com .