Funeral for a friend – Dial dispatched with honor

ST. GEORGE – Funeral services were held Saturday in St. George for Jeffrey Mark Dial, (July 15, 1956 – Feb. 7, 2012), the communications manager for the Washington County dispatch center, who passed Feb. 7.

Fittingly, Dial’s last service to the community was in person on I-15 Feb. 6 during a standoff negotiation process that had involved multiple law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, shut down an 11-mile or so stretch of I-15 for the better part of 10 hours, and caught Southern Utah’s attention like few incidents ever have.

Dial was highly regarded within his profession and beloved by friends and family.  His send-off reflected that well:

“It was beautiful. I didn’t even know the man and was touched to see how many people were there,” said Troy Hoskins, St. George News photographer, giving his eyewitness observations, “three helicopters flew overhead and one separated from the group (a life flight helicopter) bagpipes played and the firemen did a walk of mist where a fireman walked into the mist and disappeared. After it was over the family recived many hugs and condolences.”

For an overview of Dial’s life, please visit the obituary page for him at Metcalf Mortuary’s website.

We invite our citizen contributors to comment on this piece, that we may prepare it in hard copy for delivery to the family.

email: [email protected]

twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic

Copyright 2012 St. George News. 

 

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3 Comments

  • John Hull February 12, 2012 at 7:58 am

    I knew Jeff from my volunteer service at SGPD. He was always busy doing something, yet never seemed stressed out. He was in control. His dispatchers are highly trained and their loyalty was unswerving. Jeff was that kind of person who inspired others to do their very best. I attended the funeral. He deserved nothing less than every word of praise, every honor, and every symbolic demonstratioon that was given. I was particularly moved by the “last call” message from dispatch.

    Jeff’s oldest son seems destined to be just like his father. There is his legacy.

  • Adam Heyder February 12, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    As the County Fire Warden I worked with Jeff a lot during the summer as well as on committees. Jeff was a great man who strived to make all of our comunities better and provide the best service posiable with what we had to work with. He was always looking for ways to help everyone and had a lot of people that supported him in the effort, because he was such a great man to be around and work with. He will be missed and we all will have a void in our lives that will allow us to never forget him. God speed my brother and I know I will be a better man for knowing you.

  • Sue February 12, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    I didnt know him personally, but I loved his voice on the scanner. When I needed to call 911 I was tankful at how professional but friendly he was. I know I will miss his dispatches. RIP ^Jeff^

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