Richard Doverspike's Obituary
Richard Carl Doverspike, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2026. Richard was born on January 6, 1923 in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. Preceded in death by his first wife Odelia E. (Arons) Doverspike; second wife, Alta Selvey; his parents, Ethel B. (Summerton) Doverspike and William Carl Doverspike of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania and his twin brothers Raymond Doverspike and Ronald Doverspike. Richard was survived by his son, Terry Doverspike and his wife, Connie; his daughter, Pamela (Doverspike) Petros and her husband Lee, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Adam C. Doverspike and his wife Jennifer; granddaughter, Erica J. (Doverspike) Crowder and her husband, Jared, Tony Petros, Laura Petros-Bales, and Charles Petros and 12 great-grandchildren.
Richard attended Columbia University and the University of Florida majoring in aeronautical engineering but his studies were interrupted by World War II. He entered the Air Force and became a Captain and squadron leader where he flew missions in Europe and Northern Africa. Following the war, he stayed in Europe to assist in setting up civil airlines to provide transportation to high-ranking politicians, journalists and emergency supplies to war-stricken areas of Europe.
Richard married Odelia Arons in San Angelo Texas on February 13, 1946. The couple moved to Tulsa where he accepted employment with American Airlines in 1950. Richard (“Dick”) as he was known to his family and friends, retired in 1983 as the Chief Test Pilot for American Airlines at the Tulsa base. He also retired that year with the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. During his career with American Airlines, Dick flew the Convair 240, 990, the DC 3, 6, 7, & 10, the Lockheed Electra L188, the BAC 111, and the Boeing 707, 727 & 747 as well as the antique Ford Tri-motor. He, along with a team of engineers at American, was responsible for the development of the “auto-land” system for the DC10 jet and the ground proximity warning systems still used on many commercial jets in the U.S. today. Following his retirement he was frequently engaged by the Federal Aviation Administration to assist in reconstructing commercial aircraft accidents.
During his lifetime, Richard maintained several hobbies including photography, sailing, and the acquisition of an extensive library of books and music as he was an enthusiast of classical music and literature.
Richard enjoyed an unusual hobby where he designed, and in some cases built, cathedral pipe organs, including the development and maintenance of one of the largest cathedral pipe organs in the Southwest located at the First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After building the organ at First Methodist, Richard was commissioned to design organs in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Dallas as well as the organ currently located in the Sharp Chapel at the University of Tulsa. Following his retirement, Richard provided tours on the Church’s symbolism and continued to work on improvements and additions to the organ at First Methodist up to 2009.
Richard enjoyed a full and rewarding life and everyone who met him will remember his stories, his compassion for people and his abiding love of life. Friends are encouraged to make donations to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum or the First United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Celebration of life service will be held Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church (1115 S Boulder Ave, Tulsa, OK 74119)
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