Obituaries

Ernie Russell Dash, 84, passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister.

Ernie was born in Decatur, Illinois, on November 24, 1940, to Harvey Russell and Unity June Dash. He had one sibling, an older sister named Connie. Ernie graduated from Millikin University in 1961 and joined the Air Force in 1962. He was trained as a meteorologist and served in the Air Weather Service for the next 27 years, guided by his motto, “Always On Target.” He reached the rank of Colonel and received numerous medals and awards, the highest being the Legion of Merritt. He commanded the 28th Weather Squadron and the 5th Weather Wing.

After retiring from the Air Force, Ernie applied his extensive aviation meteorology expertise for the next 30 years in both the private sector and supporting the Federal Aviation Administration. While working in the private sector, Ernie’s work resulted in a patent for sending digital weather data to the cockpits of airplanes in flight. When supporting the FAA, he coordinated and facilitated the international standards and agreements crucial for sharing weather data between countries and airlines. He received NASA’s Aviation Safety and Security award in 2004 for his outstanding contributions to aviation weather safety research and development. Whenever your flight safely navigates around or through bad weather, the work that Ernie did helped make that possible.

Ernie married Lynn Lenore Noakes on July 12, 1969. They were happily married for the next 55 years. Ernie’s Air Force career took them to Hawaii, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Germany, and back to Virginia. Ernie enthusiastically supported Lynn’s many artistic and musical activities. He happily paid for more unpainted duck decoys, quilt fabric, and yarn than any husband should be expected to fund. He was voted the “Most Cheerful Roadie” for the Virginia Handbell Consort every year from 2004-2025.

Ernie and Lynn had three sons: Rusty, Randy, and Robby. When they began competitive swimming in 1979, Ernie supported them by learning how to officiate swim meets. He spent countless weekends over the next 27 years on the pool deck, most of them at Virginia Swimming meets. He also served in numerous volunteer positions on the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins swim team and Virginia Swimming. He organized and chaperoned several Zones teams. He received the Outstanding Service Award from United States Swimming in 1994. He officiated his last NCAA swim meet in 2006, five years after Robby graduated from ODU.

Ernie, Lynn, and the boys joined Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church in 1990. Ernie remained a devoted member of the church for the next 35 years. He cherished his time with the Seminar Sunday School Class.

Ernie’s family grew to include three daughters-in-law, six grandsons, one granddaughter, one granddaughter-in-law, and one great-granddaughter. Ernie leaves a legacy of kindness and happiness. He never met a stranger. He was known for his cheerfulness because he was always smiling and looking for the positivity in the world. He was a humble Christian, an officer and a gentleman, a husband, and a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Ernie Dash was a truly special person. He was beloved by everyone who knew him. He will be sorely missed.

The family will receive friends during a visitation on Friday, April 11, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. Ernie will be interned at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk, VA, on Monday, April 14, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Chestnut Memorial UMC, or Virginia Handbell Consort (VHCbells.org).