Dale Jerome Arns' Obituary
Dale Jerome Arns passed away on June 13, 2024, at the age of 96 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He
was born on April 9,1928, to Wallace A. Arns and Dora M. (Mannie) Arns in Pierre, South
Dakota. He grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he graduated from Cathedral High
School in 1947. He was married to Virginia Lee Buck from 1959 until 1971. They had three
children together. He later married Joan (Holtz) Miller in 1975. Joan preceded him in death in
2016.
At the age of 22, Dale was drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict. He served two
years at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he trained in a tank battalion. He had a great fondness
for airplanes, which influenced his decision to move to Tulsa and attend Spartan School of
Aeronautics using the G.I. Bill. He earned a diploma in aircraft and engine mechanics and
instrument repair. After graduation, he worked at American Airlines in Tulsa in the avionics gyro
shop from 1956 until his retirement in 1991.
Growing up, Dale was a Boy Scout and enjoyed many outdoor activities, including pheasant
hunting, fishing and ice skating. He and his brother, Doug, built large-scale model airplanes
together, a hobby he still enjoyed as an adult. He was an avid amateur photographer and had
hundreds of photos in his possession. After retirement he took up wood carving and continued
this hobby well into his 90’s. At his home in Jenks, he enjoyed gardening and planting trees. He
always took great care of his yard and home.
His children have fond memories of going to the American Airlines family picnics at Bell’s
Amusement Park, ice skating at the Tulsa Fairgrounds where he would skate circles around
them, eating at Casa Bonita, and going to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Six Flags over
Texas. He had an appreciation for the music of John Phillips Sousa and would take his children
to the Starlight concerts at Skelly Stadium. He loved flowers and architecture. He and his family
spent time at Woodward Park in Tulsa playing in the leaves and walking through the Rose
Garden. He has many photos of flowers and buildings from around Tulsa in the early 1950’s.
He will be missed, but we take comfort in knowing that he is in heaven with Joan, who he
missed dearly. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents, his brother Doug, and
an infant son, Stephen Arns.
He is survived by his sister Mary Tuscher of California and his children Douglas Arns and wife
Kim of Piedmont, Oklahoma; Marea (Arns) and Dan Breedlove of Locust Grove, Oklahoma;
Jeanien (Arns) and Rusty Rutherford of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Karen (Miller) and Rick Tuel
of Bentonville, Arkansas; Janice (Miller) Vails of Kiefer, Oklahoma; and 16 grandchildren and
four great-grandchildren.
Webcasting is available for those that cannot attend the service in person at: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/101982/hash:BDA30E0AC1B6AF9B
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