Dale Howard Eden, 102, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, stepped into heaven May 5, 2022. Dale was born in Monte Ne, Arkansas to Charley and Minnie Eden. He had a brother Durwood Eden. He graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1937.  He married Mary Elizabeth Merkley. They had two children: Judy James and Mike Eden; 4 grandchildren, Jennifer Lake, Joyce Myers, Jeffrey Eden and Maggie Eden; 2 great- granddaughters, Morgan Myers and Brianna Eden; and 1 great-great grandson Reece Barnett.

His careers included: Working for Pat's Cleaners in Sapulpa, Home Delivery Milk Man for Sapulpa Creamery and Tulsa Meadow Gold Dairy, Pre-flighting Military Training Aircraft in Blythe, California, Aircraft Mechanic for Commercial Airport in Tulsa, Aircraft Mechanic for American Airlines in Tulsa. American Airlines offered to train him as one of their first Professional Flight Engineers in 1951. His flying career began at Chicago O'Hare on the DC-6 and finished on the DC-10 at Dallas-Ft Worth. His retirement flight was Honolulu to Dallas- Ft. Worth where family and friends were waiting at the gate. This flight ended his 37 years with American Airlines.

Planes Dale flew: Piper Cub, Stearman, DC6, DC7, DC10. Airports he flew out of: Sapulpa City Airport, Tulsa International, Commercial Airport of Tulsa, Chicago, Amon Carter Field, Love Field, Greater Southwest International, Honolulu and Dallas -Ft Worth.

When recently asked whether he would accept an offer to ride on one of today's rockets, with no hesitation he replied yes.

Dale was instrumental in the construction of Sapulpa's Liberty Park.  He needed a good baseball field for the team he coached. With financial help from Liberty Foundation and others plus a little elbow grease on his part that park became more than a baseball field. When you drive by it today you will see that it still serves our community.

Dale served as Scoutmaster for the Sapulpa Methodist Church participating in weekly meetings and on many campouts. He was a baseball coach for young boys.

He enjoyed his family, roller skating, bowling, gardening, fishing, photography, building things, playing cards and dominoes, the Dallas Cowboys, constructing and flying model airplanes and watching his kids and grandkids play ball and dance in recitals.

He is survived by his daughter Judy James, daughter-in-law Tita Eden, grandchildren Joyce Myers (Kevin Myers) and Jeffrey Eden (Melissa Eden). grandson-in-law Gary Lake, great-granddaughters Morgan Barnett (Brian Barnett) and Brianna Eden, Great great-grandson Reece Kendred Barnett, step-great-granddaughters Mindy Lake, Lisa Fehner (Peter Fehner), Theresa Barrett (Jessie Barrett) and Jennifer B. Lake and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Elizabeth, son Mike Eden, son-in-law Kendred Leroy James, mother Minnie Barrow, father Charley Elvis Eden (Ollie Eden), brother Durwood Eden, granddaughters Jennifer Lee James and Maggie Eden, his grandparents William and Margaret Eden.

Memorial services will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church in Sapulpa. Arrangements are under the direction of Traditions Funeral and Cremation Services, 35 S. Main, Kellyville, Oklahoma, 918-247-7373.