Gary H. Yandle, 54, died May 7 at his home in Oak Lawn, following an illness.

Yandle was born July 17, 1955, in Palestine, Texas, where he attended the local high school and community college. In college, he participated in theater and music. He worked for the Texas Department of Corrections and for Palestine ISD.

Yandle was known to family and friends as a giving soul who saw the world through youthful eyes, something that would come as no surprise to those who saw him since he bore striking resemblance to iconic figure of Santa Claus.

He generously gave of his talents and was blessed with the gifts of singing and acting, along with an artistic eye for color both in the simple to the ornate.

He is survived by his life partner, J.W. “Bear” Hamilton; his adoptive mother, Barbara Ann Yandle; a brother from his birth family, Michael Carter; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Dallas, on Saturday, May 14, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Crossroads Community Services would be in keeping with Gary’s sentiments.

 

Dennis Joseph Kalter, 48, of Dallas died April 26 after a brief illness.

Born to Jack L. and Patricia A. Kalter on June 10, 1962, Kalter graduated from Fairmont East High School, Dayton, Ohio, in 1980. He graduated summa cum laude from Wright State University and attended graduate school at Middlebury College in Vermont and Yale University in Hong Kong studying Sino-Russian politics.

Kalter had a passion for music, traveling and growing plants. He was first chair violinist for the Dayton Junior Philharmonic while attending Fairmont East High School. He also was a student of linguistic arts and politics and was fluent in Russian and Mandarin Chinese.

He was an avid book enthusiast and made a career of selling them. He started as a bookseller at Novel Idea bookstore in Tulsa, Okla., then moved to Dallas where he became assistant manager at Borders Books and Music. Most recently, he was manager of the Dallas World Aquarium book store.

Kalter was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia A. Kalter, and his sisters, Jacqueline McManus and Kathleen Steck.

He is survived by his partner, Gene VanHorn; his father, Jack L. Kalter: his brothers, Michael and David; and his sister, Patty Ferree.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Dallas World Aquarium at 5 p.m. on June 10.