Waldo Bales

Waldo Frederick Bales, was born September 2, 1922 in Altoona, Pennsylvania to Harry and Ruth Bales, and grew up in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Waldo joined the Naval Air Corps in Sampson, New York during World War II and was sent to the Hutchinson, Kansas Naval Air Base and spent leave time in Wichita, Kansas where he met his future wife, Cecille, at a dance in the fall of 1944. He was shipped to San Diego in preparation for overseas duty but before leaving for the war, Cecille traveled by train to San Diego where they were married on April 16, 1945, which began a partnership and love affair that lasted for 67 years. The morning after their wedding Bales was sent to the South Pacific, serving as a gunner on Naval PBY seaplane runs over Borneo and other areas and received air medals for his bravery in battle. After the war he moved to Wichita Kansas to attend college on the GI bill and graduated from Wichita State University. The family then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended the University of Tulsa Law School at night and worked several different jobs to help support his family. Upon graduation from law school he began a long and varied legal career. Waldo was in private practice, was an assistant District Attorney, City Attorney for the City of Tulsa and General Counsel of the Grand River Dam Authority. While City Attorney he served on the City-County Health Commission, Director of Municipal Attorney's, State Chair for Oklahoma in the National Institute of Municipal Legal Officers, Chaired the Consulting Commission for Magic Empire of Girl Scouts, headed American Bar Associations Local Government Personnel and Labor Relations Commission, served on the Board of First Methodist Church, the Southwest Legal Foundation, and other boards and commissions. Upon retiring from the City Attorney's office to Grand Lake, he became active in Delaware County, serving as Assistant District Attorney, ran his own law office and also served as General Counsel for the Grand River Dam Authority from 1988to 1992. Waldo received many honors for his service to the City of Tulsa, the State of Oklahoma and various bar associations. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Cecille, a sister, Larue Dieter, daughter Sally Strong and her husband Steve, son Vaden and his wife Susan, Grandsons Kevin Bales, Kyle Strong, Matthew Bales and Andrew Bales, granddaughters Tyne Berlanga and Heather Devers, and great- grandchildren Joy Berlanga and Cruz Berlanga. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the South Grand Lake Christian Church in Langley, Oklahoma. Interment will be held at 3:00 p.m., at the Floral Haven Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Friends and family may leave online condolences by viewing obituary at www.honoringmemories.com. Services are under the direction of Luginbuel South Grand Lake in Langley, Okahoma.

Service Details

Saturday, April 21st, 2012 10:00am, South Grand Lake Christian Church

Interment Details