David Croslen Savage

David C. Savage, of Oklahoma City, passed away June 14th, 2011. He was born February 27th, 1922 in Sapulpa, OK. His parents were Clifford and Gladys Croslen Savage. He attended schools in Tulsa, Mattoon, Illinois, and Denver, before graduating high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attended college at the University of Wyoming and graduated from the University of Denver in the class of 1948. David was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and Theta Alpha Phi fraternities.

David worked on a ranch in Wyoming during the summers of his teenage years and later served in World War II as a B-29 pilot and instructor. He played the coronet and trumpet in the Army Air Corps Band. His love of aviation lasted his entire life. He worked for Continental Airlines in Denver in the 1950s, but ultimately decided to follow in the footsteps of his father by entering the oil business as a landman. His career spanned over 50 years, beginning with Pure Oil Company, Union Oil Company of California (27 years) and other firms, before he established his own private company in the 1980s. He was a past president and director of the Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen and a longtime member of the Central Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City.

David was predeceased by his mother and father and two brothers, Wm. C. “Jim” Savage and Jack Ellsworth Savage, the latter having been killed in action in the Pacific during World War II. He was married to Margaret Jones Eldridge in 1965 and is survived by his wife and four boys, Brandt and Stuart Eldridge of Oklahoma City and twins David Savage, Jr. and Jack Savage of New York City. He also leaves behind four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, three nieces and one nephew. A high point every year in his life was going at Thanksgiving to visit his niece and nephew, Mary Ann Fletcher and Randy Savage, of Marble Falls, TX and their families.

“Dave” never met a stranger. He was very friendly, kind, generous and loyal man who had many friends who loved and appreciated his many talents and winning personality. He was a wonderful family man, though he did not marry until he was 43 years of age. He enjoyed telling people, “I was a bachelor for 43 years, married a widow lady, and had four boys, a dog and a goldfish in two years.”

Dave will be greatly missed by his loving family and by his many friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 18th at Central Presbyterian Church, 5101 N. May Avenue, OKC, at 2:30 pm. Viewing is available at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper, 6600 Broadway Extension, OKC from 8:00 am – 9:00 pm, Friday, June 17th.

Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.