Dale Ruston Conard, 71

DOVER - Dale Ruston Conard, of Dover, died Thursday Oct. 9, 2008, in his home. He was 71. Mr. Conard was born June 12, 1937, in Dover, to the late William Lane Conard and Elfreda Ruston Conard. He lived his entire life in Dover on the family farm. He served in the United States Army. After the service he returned home to continue working on the family farm. When he wasn't farming he was a truck driver and carpenter but his true passion was playing the bluegrass music and farming. Mr. Conard was an accomplished, gifted bluegrass musician, playing the banjo, guitar and dobro. Mr. Conard had even been approached by several famous bluegrass groups to tour with them, but his love for his family made his decision not to go. He had taught his nephew Jason, to play and he has become very accomplished as well. Mr. Conard enjoyed playing his music with different groups and bluegrass friends. Mr. Conard also enjoyed Bass fishing and hunting with his good friends. Every Thursday he had a standing appointment with his two special friends, Billy Opdyke and Ike Fields who would spend the day with Dale at the farm. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his three sisters, Ruth Bordenkecher, Shirley Marty and Linda Bickling. Mr. Conard is survived by his wife of 42 years, Joan Long Conard of Dover; two sons, David and Clinton Conard both of Dover; his daughter-in-law, Mary Compton Conard of Dover; his brother, Donald Conard and his wife Helen of Denton, Md. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Spc. Adam Conard recently deployed to Iraq; Sara Conard and Jessica Chase both of Dover, Dominic Layman and his sister Destinee; and many nieces and nephews; and special sister-in-law Shirley Davis of Hartly. Also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Olin and Charlene Evans of Cheswold. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Monday in Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Route 10), Dover. Friends may call Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover. Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at torbertfuneral.com.