Dale Knoble James

Dale Knoble James, 92, of Fredericksburg passed away at home on Monday, August 4, 2025.

Dale was born on April 5, 1933, in Massillon to H. C. and Florence (Knoble) James and was a 1951 graduate of Fredericksburg High School.  He attended the College of Wooster from 1951 – 1952 and was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, having served from 1953-1955.  On Jan. 20, 1956, he married Janice Allshouse and he continued his studies at Kent State University where he graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Business and Marketing Degree.  He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. For one year he worked at Goodyear before joining his father’s Ford Dealership, H.C. James Ford in Fredericksburg. In 1980, Dale moved the dealership to Apple Creek and changed the name to Dale James Ford.  The James Family has proudly served the Wayne County Community through their Ford Dealership for the past 97 years.  Dale earned the Ford Distinguished Achievement and Blue Oval Award for 31 years and he won 16 Ford sales trips that enabled his family to travel to many enjoyable destinations.

Dale’s favorite car was the 1955 Ford Sunliner Convertible and he enjoyed buying and selling vehicles, hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, birdwatching, big band music, swing dancing and spending time with family.  Dale and Jan enjoyed many trips to the family cabin in Canada and spending the winter months in Florida.

Surviving are his children and their spouses, Susan and Peter Halliday, Scott and Anjanette James and Sherri and Thomas Machamer; grandchildren and their spouses, David and Danni Stoltzfus, Leanne and Austin Rose, Steven and Elyse Machamer, Denise Machamer and her fiancée Ben Gutzky, Maria James, Sophia James and Wilson James and great-grandchildren, Luke Rose and Atlee Machamer.

Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Jan, on Oct. 21, 2019 and his parents.

Services will be Tuesday, Aug. 12th at 3:00 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Fredericksburg with burial following in Fredericksburg East Cemetery.  A reception will be held following the services for the public from 5-7 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or to Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church, PO Box 259, Fredericksburg, OH 44627.