H. Dale Zimmerman, 88, of Wernersville, died Wednesday, May 2, at Phoebe Berks Village. He was born July 9, 1929 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, a son of the late George D. and Kate E. (Kinsey) Zimmerman. He was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Wilbur, and Ernest, and three sisters, Orpha Vereb, Mary Lou Pritts, and Virginia Zimmerman. Dale is survived by his wife of 64 years, Norma J. (Shumaker) Zimmerman, and a son, Jeffrey Zimmerman and daughter-in-law, Margaret Herrick. Other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Juniata College in 1952, Dale attended seminaries at Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh and Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago, from which he graduated in 1954. He eventually went on to earn Master's and Doctoral degrees in Counselor Education at Penn State, graduating in 1966. He also earned a School Psychology Certification from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He became a Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist in 1973.

An ordained minister of the Church of the Brethren since 1952, Dale served as a bi-vocational minister at four churches in the Western District of the Church of the Brethren until 1970 and at three churches in the Atlantic Northeast District. Early in his career, he was employed as a social studies teacher, basketball coach, and school counselor at the junior and senior high school levels, in addition to brief posts as a school counseling administrator and school psychologist.

In 1969, Dale began a 26-year tenure at Kutztown State College (later Kutztown University). There he was a professor of Graduate Studies in Counselor Education and a director of the school's Department of Counseling Services. He retired from Kutztown in 1995 and, until 2005, served in several capacities within the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren. Dale was a member of Mohrsville Church of the Brethren.

A funeral service will be held at the Mohrsville Church of the Brethren, 1542 Shoey Road, Mohrsville, PA 19541 on Tuesday at 11:00 am with Pastor Scott Cooper officiating. Friends will be received at the church Tuesday between 10:00 and 11:00 am. Burial will be private in Viewpoint Cemetery, Centre Twp. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Mohrsville Church of the Brethren at the above address. Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., Leesport is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit, www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com.

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