Obituary of Loy Dale Cruse

Loy Dale Cruse, aged 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025, after suffering a stroke earlier in the week.
Dale was born on August 15, 1932, in Hardin County, IL, where he was raised a true country boy. He was always proud of his home town of Cave-In-Rock and loved to share stories about his childhood there.
He always had a love and passion for sports and competition. Dale received a scholarship from McKendree University where he played basketball, baseball, and ran track. He was an accomplished athlete and was inducted into the McKendree Sports Hall of Fame. Despite his significant athletic success, his proudest achievement was always his education and the various degrees he was able to earn because of athletics.
Dale was very generous and charitable to others. He was grateful for the opportunities he had been given and wanted others to have similar chances. He has endowed multiple scholarships at various universities which continue to provide financial assistance to students. Despite Dale’s passing, these scholarships live on and stand as a tribute to Dale’s love of education and his generosity to help others.
Dale was a respected professor and department chairman at the University of Utah, where he taught in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department for over two decades.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dale was an avid golfer and fisherman. These were both hobbies that he continued to enjoy throughout his life.
He was a committed member of the United Christ Methodist Church, where he participated actively in the community and formed many cherished relationships.
Dale is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Peggy Ann Cruse; his daughter, Vicki Edgington; and his grandchildren, Tristen (Jeff) Gatzemeier, Cruz (Blair) Edgington, and Madison (Spencer) Steffensen. He was also a proud great-grandfather known as “Papa” to Megan, Brooklyn, Jackson, Quinn, and Jordy.
Dale was preceded in death by his son Randy Cruse; son-in-law, Todd Edgington; and grandson, Jordan Edgington.
Dale will always be remembered for his dedication to his family, his passion for teaching and coaching, his love for golf, and his incredible generosity to others.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 5th at Christ United Methodist Church at 2375 E 3300 S in Salt Lake City, UT at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dr. L Dale Cruse Endowed Scholarship at the University of Utah, or take your family out to dinner at Bonsai Steakhouse. It was a favorite family tradition. https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/60718/donations/new .

Published in the April 10, 2025 Hardin County Independent.

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