David Horace Bixler's Obituary
David Horace Bixler, Jr. passed away on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the age of 88.
David, born on September 22, 1936, in Downers Grove, IL, graduated from Canoga Park High School, Canoga Park, CA in 1954 and attended Southern California College, now Vanguard University. As a young boy, Dave was a free spirit, roaming on his bike around the sparsely populated hills of Northridge, CA. His parents, David and Evelyn never quite knew his whereabouts but always trusted that he would come home in the evening for that all-important occasion – dinner. Throughout his life, he called many cities and states home: Chicago, IL; various communities around Los Angeles and Palm Desert, CA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Hoffman Estates, IL; Southfield, MI; Stanwood, WA; Durango, CO; and most recently, Tulsa, OK.
Dave’s time at college was filled with many long days as his work ethic was on overdrive to balance his jobs, football practices and studies. It wasn’t long before he met the love of his life, Nancy (nee Skoog), whom he married in the summer of 1959. For the last 10 years, Dave and Nancy have been residing happily at Covenant Living at Inverness, Tulsa, where they have so enjoyed being close to their daughters, Daleen and Jeanette and their husbands.
Dave began working as a teenager first with Gem Plastics and not long afterwards with Reliance Dairy. These two jobs merely provided steppingstones for his primary career with Denny’s, Inc restaurant division. Over the course of 20 years, Dave’s commitment and common-sense approach to the customer and the organization he served were consistently recognized by his superiors. Thus, with frequent moves of the family, he assumed ever increasing responsibility, ultimately taking him to the role of President of Denny’s before retiring in 1987. Work associates became life-long friends, whom he deeply loved and respected.
Outside of work, Dave’s interests and creative passions have been elk hunting, painting, reading, model wooden ship building, traveling the world and providing for his loving wife and family. The Great Outdoors always called him; stories abounded of the antics, challenges and joys shared with his buddies (and Linda) at the annual Kiser Elk Camps. Most of all, Dave had a heart of generosity founded on the goodness of God best revealed in the ultimate gift of the world’s Savior, Jesus.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, David H. and Evelyn Bixler; sister Liane Hall; and a host of family and friends before him. The family he loved relentlessly are his wife Nancy, daughters Daleen Nimick (Andrew), Jeanette Phillips (Cary), and grandchildren Clint Phillips, Stephen Nimick (Joanna), and Christina Phillips.
A private family memorial service is scheduled at Floral Haven in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Dave had a heart for Gospel-centric ministry. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Harold and Helen Skoog Endowed Scholarship Fund-corpus” at Oral Roberts University. https://oru.elluciancrmadvance.com/giftportal/Other. Use the Comments section to denote the fund or send a check to ORU at 7777 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa, OK 74171; use memo line as above.
We remember fondly some of Dave’s typical sayings: “What’s for dinner?” “Sounds like a plan.” “Better out than in.” “Done cookin’.” “Done Movin’.” Yes, no more movin’ for you Dad, now go enjoy your Grand Slam! We love you so much.
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