Dale Muther Allison, Ph.D. age 81 of Marion, MA formerly of Honolulu, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Newtown Highlands passed away just as she wished in her beloved residence and childhood summer home. She was the widowed wife of W. Anthony Allison, M.D. with whom she shared 54 years of marriage, and was the mother of Patricia Dillard, Vivian Shelton, Anita Allison and her beloved dog Max.

Born in Newton, MA, the daughter of Donald Muther and Florence (Briggs) Muther. Dale and her brother Brahm were raised by her WWII widowed mother in Newton Highlands. She was a graduate of Newton South High School, Boston University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Dale Allison has more than 50 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Professor of Community Health, and Acting Dean. She began her nursing career as a public health nurse in Southeast, Washington, D.C.. Dale continued her work at UPenn teaching women’s health and working with predominantly African American pregnant adolescents. After completing a Master of Science in Nursing at UPenn, she taught maternity nursing students at Bryn Mawr Hospital before returning to UPenn to work as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. After finishing her doctorate, Dale moved to Hawaii and was on the faculty at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Dale transitioned to Hawaii Pacific University where she moved up the ranks from professor, to Assistant Dean, to Acting Dean before her retirement in 2013. Dale was most proud of her work with underserved populations on the North Shore of Oahu and the community health centers where she was a director of a program integrating traditional Hawaiian healing practices with Western Medicine, bringing people into healthcare. Teaching, Practice, and Research have been her focus throughout her career to help people to understand their health care issues.

Dale was a loving wife, mother, family member and friend who opened her heart and home to all. As a practicing Quaker, social causes and groups were of particular importance to her. She volunteered as a “spy” for the Fair Housing Counsel, was a Girl Scout Leader, was active in supporting like-minded political candidates, and was instrumental in the 1989 court case US v. Lansdowne Swim Club, integrating the pool. While in Hawaii she explored and challenged herself in new pursuits such as learning to motorcycle, scuba dive, surf, and paddle an outrigger canoe. Dale loved swimming, boating, and porch sitting with loved ones at her home in Marion.

Dale is survived by her three daughters, Patricia M. Dillard and her husband Gregory of Texas; Vivian A. Shelton and her husband Zachary of Virginia; Anita N. Allison of Massachusetts; and, 6 grandchildren, Gregory III, Lydia and Jeramiah Dillard and Jaden, Sophia and Jewel Shelton.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 4th at 10 a.m. in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Fairlawn, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Marion.
For online tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com