Floyd D. Bruntzel

BRUNTZEL, Floyd D., 86, passed away Tuesday, September 6, 2016 in Tulsa, OK. He was born in Burdett, KS, March 18, 1930. He was the youngest child of Charley and Nellie Bruntzel. He had three older sisters, Lorayne, Dorothy & Leora. He went through the twelfth grade at Burdett and graduated from Burdett High School in 1948. He worked on his father's farm raising cattle and wheat. He learned to fly at age 17 on a crop duster, and also played a trumpet in a small dance orchestra. In 1953, he married Vida Wittig and soon thereafter, went into the U. S. Army and served with the S66 Engineer Aviation Battalion at Teague Korea where he operated a Caterpillar building runways and roads for the Air Force. In 1955, he returned to the farm at Burdett and also learned house painting from his uncle which brought in an extra income. His first son, David, was born in 1957 and his second son, Mark in 1960 followed by his first daughter, Debra in 1964. Floyd loved to fly and farming was ok but just didn't fulfill his desire so he studied and went to Wichita and got his commercial pilot's license and instructor ratings. He borrowed money and bought an airplane and started giving flying lessons. This soon led to some charter trips for an oil exploration company that was drilling in the area. He also taught the owner of the company to fly and they became good friends. In 1967, Floyd moved his family to Tulsa to become a pilot for a drilling company. In 1968, the drilling company declared bankruptcy and Floyd started anew with Pennant Aviation, the Cessna Dealer in Tulsa, as an aircraft salesman. This turned out to be the best thing that ever happened as Floyd had the right qualifications and the aircraft industry was on a roll at that time. In 1970, Floyd and Vida were blessed with their second daughter, Beth. The airplane business went well until 1984 when Cessna decided to quit building general aviation airplanes. So Floyd moved on to other things and retired in 1992. Since his retirement, he has kept busy working part-time in a farm and garden store in Tulsa and has built many projects in his garage at home. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa, OK. He loved his family and especially his grandchildren and his dachshund, Gus. He is preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters. He is survived by his loving wife, Vida of the home; two daughters, Beth Shores of Tulsa, OK, and Debbie Overfelt of Wellington, KS; two sons, David Bruntzel of Beggs, OK, and Mark Bruntzel of Tulsa, OK; and nine grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Vida Bruntzel for her granddaughter's kidney transplant. Memorial service will be 2:00 P.M., Friday, September 9, 2016 at Asbury United Methodist Church-Mason Chapel, 6767 S. Mingo, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Floyd D. Bruntzel

March 18, 1930 - September 6, 2016