Beatrice Alice Dale, 1904–1978

Beatrice Alice Dale was born on 26 April 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father was John David Booth (1877–1932) and her mother was Mary Elizabeth Lott (1878–1957). She was baptized in St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in May of that same year. She was the third of eight children.

The family briefly moved to Sedalia, where John was employed by the railroad. Mary was not happy living away from her family but was happy when John was let go and they could move back to St. Louis.

By the time of the 1920 census, Alice worked in a cap factory and the family resided at 1600 Hunt Road. She was fourteen when she lost half of a finger in a sewing machine accident at the factory.

On 4 May 1921 she married Herman Amelung (1893–1935). There was violence in the relationship, allegedly over grocery money spent on her siblings’ shoes for school, and they were divorced by 1923. She then married Archie Edward Wicklein (1905–1973) in 1923. The marriage ended before their daughter Theresa Marie was born on 2 March 1924.

Alice married Henry William Dale (1891–1960) on 1 January 1926. While there was no formal adoption of Theresa, she was part of this family. She was baptized at St. Luke’s Parish, Richmond Heights, Missouri in August 1926. Their son Henry William Dale Jr. was born 4 January 1928. He was baptized that same month at Presentation Parish, St. Louis, Missouri.

At the time of the 1930 census, the family lived in a basement apartment at 7552 Parkdale, in Clayton, Missouri. By 1940, the family was living in a house that Henry built at 8545 Geiger Road, Normandy, Missouri.

Their daughter Donna Lee was born on 17 February 1942. She was baptized in St. Ann’s Parish in Normandy, Missouri in May of that same year.

Alice’s husband Henry died in February 1960 and was buried at Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis. Alice lived the rest of her life in the house Henry had built for the family. After Henry’s death, she went to work in a school cafeteria, where she slipped and broke a knee cap. She never completely recovered from this injury, yet she continued to work as as a home healthcare provider until her retirement.

After retirement, Alice rented out extra bedrooms as respectable boarders were available. The extra money helped pay the bills and those boarders became part of her family. She was the center of her family, and her children respected her and sought her advice. Alice was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren who adored her.

(Sources include the U.S. census, marriage licenses, death certificates, religious records, newspaper articles and family stories)

Written by Mary Ann Dale-Bannister
Fall 2024
© 2024, St. Louis Genealogical Society