Purple Heart Homes, Statesville, N.C. on Wednesday announced the sudden death of its co-founder, Dale Beatty, of Statesville, N.C.
Beatty, 39, and John Gallina joined the North Carolina National Guard in 1996. On November 15, 2004, both were severely injured in Bayji, Iraq, when the Humvee in which they were riding together on a mission exploded. Beatty, who became a double amputee, spent a year recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital before returning home to Statesville, North Carolina. Together they formed Purple Heart Homes, a veteran-owned and veteran-operated non-profit to provide safe and accessible barrier-free environments in homes for disabled veterans.
Beatty served as Purple Heart Homes’ Chairman of the Board from 2008-2015 and as Strategic Development Officer from 2015 until his death on February 12, 2018.
Survivors include Beatty’s wife Belinda, his children Dustin, Lucas and Sophia, his parents, Selene and Jerry Beatty and his sister, Amber Hepler (Michael). A public viewing will be held Friday, February 16, 2018 at 12:00 noon, followed by a service at 2:00pm, at Western Avenue Baptists Church, 1206 Museum Road, Statesville, N.C. 28625.
