Dan Arnold

Dan Cooper Arnold, 84, of Monkey Island on Grand Lake, passed away on November 7, 2021, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born in Borger, Texas on June 7, 1937, to Algeron “Al” Arnold and Irene McCracken Arnold.

Dan was a 1955 graduate of Nowata High School. After graduation he joined the United States Army. Upon completion of his military duty, he enrolled in Spartan College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating from Airframe and Engine mechanic school in 1958, and flight training in 1959. Dan flew for small companies in Fort Smith, Arkansas flying single engine and multi engine aircraft. In 1967 he started his own company. In 1989 Dan moved to New Jersey which led to his first corporate jet job as a Co-Pilot. One year later he became a Captain. During the years he flew corporate assignments and charters out of Teterboro, New Jersey, flying entertainers and corporate assignments for City Bank, Prudential, and J. C. Penny. Charter flights were mainly for Rock-N-Roll groups including Three Dog Night, Kiss, Mountain, and Eric Clapton. He also flew Prince Charles and Princess Diana on two occasions. Dan accepted a six-month assignment in Geneva, Switzerland for work with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. Upon returning to the States, he flew and managed the Flight Department for Butler International. His final job was with Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois as a Chief Pilot/Director of Aviation. During his 14 years with Abbott, he literally flew around the world making friends and maintaining those relationships. Meeting people and making friends mattered to Dan.

Dan was an avid golfer, hunter, and poker player.

Dan is preceded by his parents, grandparents, his first wife Earlene Chandler Arnold, his daughter Dana Renee Arnold, and his stepson Anthony Wilkie.

Dan is survived by his wife Roberta, a grandson Anthony Cooper Pluta, of Talala, Oklahoma, brother John M. Arnold and wife Susan of Atlanta, Georgia, cousin Andrew T. Arnold and wife Libba of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, friends closer than family, Dewayne and Tanya Goza, of Monkey Island, a step-daughter, Pamela Wilkie Rice and husband James of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, niece, Karen Arnold Beall and husband Price of Hilton Head, South Carolina, other relatives and a host of friends all over the world.

Funeral services for Dan Arnold will be held Saturday November 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at Benjamin Funeral Service, Nowata, Oklahoma, 114 W. Cherokee, 74048. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Nowata.

The family suggests donations in Dan’s honor, to the Nowata Community Foundation, P.O. Box 203, Nowata, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com or see our Facebook page.