Carla Jeanne Gierhart

Carla Jeanne Gierhart died on Sunday, February 21. The long time resident of Shawnee leaves a large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who love and respect the legacy that she and Lew Dale, her husband (and our father who passed on December 17, 2007), left each of us as a foundation for life and success. Born at Ada, Oklahoma on June 8, 1932 at a house on 10th Street to Carl and Lulu Spangler, Carla was an outgoing, exuberant child whose friendly personality and Christian foundation carried her through the decades that followed. Carla was the oldest of three children. Both her brother, Charles, and sister, Beverly, have passed. Carla and Dale met through a blind date in the summer of 1948 in Shawnee where her parents had moved several years before to 213 S. Oak. Carla was 16 and Dale was almost 19 after being discharged from the Army. Though planning a September 1950 wedding after Carla's graduation from Shawnee High School, Lew Dale's membership with the Army National Guard caused him to be called into active service for the Korean War (45th Infantry Division). They moved their plans up and were married on August 7, 1950. After training Dale was transferred to Japan and Korea in 1951 where he remained for over a year. Their first son, Steve, was born in August 1951. David was born in August 1953, followed by Doug in March 1956 and Danny in July 1961. After the Army Dale was an employee of Tinker AFB in a long career. Carla was a housewife tending the four boys until the 1960s when she began church work, first as a secretary with the Pottawatomie-Lincoln County Baptist Association and then as a pastor's secretary at Immanuel Baptist Church where she was a long standing member. Dale and Carla loved to travel, doing several trips in the U.S.A. with the boys as they grew up, and then as a couple to Alaska, Israel and Europe as adults. Dale loved her pies, her red velvet cake and her smoky brisket (and so did the rest of the family) where they entertained friends and family at 8 Apache in Shawnee. Surviving Carla are Steve and Bonny Gierhart, Huntsville, Alabama, David and Kim Gierhart, Jenks, Oklahoma, Doug and Susan Gierhart, Choctaw, and Danny and Shari Gierhart, Tuttle. Also included are 12 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. The funeral arrangements were made by Walker Funeral Service, Shawnee. A service will be conducted at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 24. Family and friends are welcome. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church in Carla's name.