The shareholders of Udall Shumway announce the passing of one of the firm’s founding members, Dale R. Shumway. Dale’s hard work, knowledge of the law and dedication to his clients continue to influence our firm culture and legal services. He was a community servant, a trusted member of the bar and a valued colleague. He will be greatly missed. The following provides a summary of his life:
Dale Rex Shumway passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, January 23, 2025, at his home in Tempe, Arizona with his daughter Debra by his side. He was 94 years old. Dale was born at his parents’ farm/ranch in Taylor, Arizona on the 31st day of May,1930. He was the fourth child and first son of V. Rex and Elizabeth Solomon Shumway. As a youth, his father counted on him to do a “man’s” work, and work Dale could do.
Dave married Naoma Fuller of Tempe, AZ on April 10, 1952. After their marriage, Dale attended Brigham Young University for one semester and then returned to Arizona State where in 1954 he graduated with a B.S. degree in Agronomy. From 1954 until the fall of 1960, he was employed by Producers Cotton Oil Company in Maricopa and in Avra Valley.
In the fall of 1960, at the age of 30 (with a wife and five young children to support) Dale enrolled in the University of Arizona College of Law and graduated in 1963. He was employed as an Assistant Attorney General and as a Special Assistant for the State of Arizona until 1974. In 1965 he joined with David K. Udall to form the law firm of Udall Shumway in Mesa, Arizona. He became a highly respected attorney and was admitted to practice before the State and Federal Courts in Arizona, the Circuit Courts in San Francisco and the District of Columbia, the United States Court of Claims and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
In July of 1970 until 1974 Dale had the honor of serving as Mayor of Tempe, Arizona. He was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (now the Central Arizona Project) and in 1983 was elected to serve as President of the Board.
Dale was pre-deceased by his dear wife Naoma, his parents, Elizabeth & Rex Shumway, his siblings, Ann (George) Woods, Shirley (Carl) Cole, Drew Shumway, Peter (Loretta) Shumway, his brother-in-law Wesley Bowman, and his great-grandson Joseph Thompson
Dale is survived by his five children: Debra Ann (Fred) Woods, Dale Rex II (Diane), Carolyn Ama (Barry) Dickerson, Catherine (Don) Ralph, and Matthew Fuller (Julie), his daughter-in-law Pattie Shumway, 22 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to the above posterity, Dale is survived by his sister Mary Bowman, his brother Lane (Marylin) Shumway, his sister-in-law Joan Shumway Turley, many nieces and nephews, and countless dear friends.
