Our dad, Dial Bleakley, 86, of Junction City, Kansas, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 10, 2025. He is preceded in death by our mother and his wife of 61 years, Sheryl (Foland) Bleakley.
Cremation will take place. A celebration of life service will be conducted 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Junction City Church of the Nazarene (JCNAZ) with Pastor Mark Hatcher officiating.
He was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1939 to Sam and Mary Bleakley. Growing up he lived in Oklahoma, California, and Arkansas. He joined the Army in 1958 and while stationed in Ft. Riley, he met our mother and they were married December 28, 1962.
He was honorably discharged from the Army and was soon employed as a fireman in Junction City and Ft. Riley. During his 33 years of service with the fire department he held the positions of firefighter, lieutenant and captain, a rank he held until his retirement. Afterwards he worked in civil service at Ft. Riley for 15 years before finally slowing down to stay home and care for our mother.
Dial was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, provider, role model, friend, carpet layer, wallpaper hanger, and avid coffee drinker. He never met a stranger and was kind to everyone he met.
He leaves behind three sons, David Bleakley of Grand Junction, Colorado, Keith (Cindy) Bleakley of Tecumseh, Kansas, Kent (Lori) Bleakley of Topeka, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Matthew (Nichole), Connor, Nathaed. We love you Pop.n, Heather, Katelyn, Cole, Jeff, Katie; and six great grandchildren. He also leaves behind a vacant spot in the pew at JC Nazarene, and an empty chair next to his son’s and friends at the local coffee shop. He will be forever missed. We love you Pop.