Dale Conklin, age 74, amateur paleontologist, photographer and Whidbey Island’s very own “Mammoth Hunter,” father, grandfather, and friend to many, passed away peacefully with his eldest son and two dogs at his side in his Greenbank cabin on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.

He is survived by three sons, Carey, Kent and Drew, their wives Corinne, Natalie and Iris, respectively. Other survivors include his two grandchildren, Blair and Danielle, his sister Ginger and brother Doug, his nephews Dane, Clay, Guy, Zachary, and Josh, niece Laura, his dogs Zach and Sammy, as well as countless friends on Whidbey Island and in Southern California. 

Dale was born to Delone and Bill Conklin on

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1935 in Hollywood, Calif. He attended Hollywood High and then enlisted in the

U.S. Army and served as a paratrooper.

Dale owned in partnership a successful paint manufacturing business where he developed and distributed house paints throughout the nation. When Southern California life became too hectic, and following the divorce of his first wife and mother of their three sons, Dale discovered the home where he knew he had always belonged and settled at the “Eagle’s Nest” on Scatchet Head where he lived for more than 25 years.

Dale was a lover of nature, spending countless hours appreciating nearby beaches and spectacular views of the Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier from his bluff-top cabin. His sense of humor, friendliness and the kindness he showed to people from all walks of life has forever enriched many lives.   

Family and friends will celebrate his life Thanksgiving weekend with a memorial gathering for all from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday,

Nov. 28, at the Scatchet Head Community Club, preceded by a gathering of family and close friends on the beach at Scatchet Head Point. This is where Dale walked the beach daily and where be began his quest for mammoth bones, most of which can be found on display at the Island County Historical Society Museum in Coupeville.

For more information about the memorial, feel free to contact Corinne Conklin at 949-499-1156. 

As we know, Dale was so proud of his contributions to the Ice Age and Woolly Mammoth exhibits, may we suggest rather than gifts or flowers to the family, donations be made to the Island County Historical Society, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, at ICHS, PO Box 305, Coupeville, WA 98235,

360-678-3310.