Steele

On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, Gary L. Steele, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at age 79.

Gary was born in Grove City on Sept. 23, 1942.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in January 1962 and served active duty for 20 years. After his retirement in 1982 at Gila Bend AFAF, he continued to serve Luke Air Force Base and Gila Bend AFAF for an additional 31 years through the Department of Defense and U.S. Civil Service. He received multiple accolades throughout his duty, and the highlight of his career was a flight in the back seat of an F-16 fighter jet in 2008.

On Oct. 9, 1965, he married Susan Woodward-Carlton, and they raised two children together.

Gary had a zest for life that was infectious. He always will be remembered by his grandchildren for his antics such as the “welcome dance” and the “long-handled fork theft.”

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Wilfred; his mother, Mildred; and sister, Kathy Steele.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; his two children, Jon and Belle; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ron.

STEELE — A funeral service for Gary L. Steele, who died Wednesday, July 27, 2022, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Ariz.

A celebration of life will follow at Advent Episcopal Church, 13150 W. Spanish Garden Dr., Sun City West, Ariz.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Gary Steele to the Dementia Society of America online at www.dementiasociety.org/donate; or Hospice of the Valley online at https://www.hov.org/donate/donate-now/.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.