Dale E. Stroud, CW4 (Ret) U.S. Army, age 68, of Enterprise, Alabama, passed away on April 3, 2026.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest H. and Monica D. Stroud.

Dale was a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. He proudly served his country as an Army Aviator for 21 years. Dale's initial assignment in the Army was as a crew chief for the Cobra. After being appointed as a Warrant Officer and earning his Aviator wings Dale went on to serve in many unit and mission assignments: 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion (Attack), 101st Air Assault Division; 1-101 Aviation Regiment (Expect No Mercy) 101st Air Assault Division; 2-227 Aviation Regiment (Assassins) Germany; 1-14 Aviation Regiment (Tomahawks), Fort Rucker, Alabama; 1-2 Aviation Regiment (Gunfighter) Korea; Directorate of Evaluation and Standards (DES) Fort Rucker, AL. Throughout his many unit assignments, Dale supported numerous short tour assignments and deployments such as Korea, two Apache unit fielding rotations at Fort Hood, Texas. Desert Shield/Storm and several unit assistance visits. Dale's aircraft qualifications included the UH-1 Iroquois, OH-58 A/C Kiowa, AH-1 Cobra, and AH-64 Apache. During his aviation career, Dale served as a pilot, Instructor Pilot, Armament Officer, Standardization Instructor Pilot, and as an Instrument Flight Examiner. Upon uniformed military retirement, Dale went on to serve in an industry role, continuing to lead and support mission capabilities and operations for Army Aviation. Dale had a distinguished and lasting legacy for Army Aviation and the countless soldiers and aviators he positively impacted through his decades of service. Dale loved anything that flew or drove, including helicopters, airplanes, and especially cars. He was truly a “car guy” and also enjoyed spending time outdoors. Above all, Dale loved his family. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Bridget, for 36 years.

He is survived by his loving wife, Bridget A. Stroud; daughter, Julia M. Stroud (Jackson Morris); son, Christopher D. Stroud; sister, Michelle Martin; sister-in-law, Christine Dahlkemper; father and mother-in-law, Robert and Jane Moomy; uncle, Bobby Stroud (Theo); aunts, Phyllis Beachum and Sally Byington; aunt-in-laws, Alice Moomy and Ruthann Moomy (Rod Eggert); nieces, Katie Harrington (Michael) and Kelly Dahlkemper; his nephew, Jamie Martin; cousins, Mike Byington (Tammy), Lisa Stroud, Laura Nason (Brian), Matthew Eggert (Shannon), Elizabeth Thomas (Oliver); along with many extended family members, Army family members, and many friends.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Rev. Father Patrick Gallagher officiating and Sorrells Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery 1379 County Road 633 Enterprise, Alabama 36330. A reception will be held following the burial at St. John the Evangelist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Knights of Columbus at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 123 Heath, Enterprise, AL 36330 or to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD 21741 in Dale’s honor.

Many thanks to the following team of people who cared for Dale as he courageously battled cancer: Dr. Jarrod Adkison and the entire Southeast Health Cancer Center, Dr. Joshua Bentley and Candace Short, DNP of the ENVI group, Dr. Kevin Brown, Dr. Michael Pinson, Dr. Jeffrey Whitehurst, Encompass Health Rehab Hospital of Dothan, Enterprise Health and Rehab Center and DaySpring Hospice.

Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory of Enterprise, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements.