Daniel “Dan” Lee Goble passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Bel Aire, Kansas. He was 95 years old. Dan was born to Roy Earl and Gladys (Crotts) Goble in Turon, Kansas. He grew up on the family farm near Sterling, Kansas, and graduated from Sterling High School in 1949.
He joined the Air Force during the Korean War and served stateside. While he said that four years in the military was enough for him, he was grateful that the Air Force taught him to fly and to build and repair aircraft. He put that knowledge to good work in the aircraft industry in Wichita, Kansas, working the majority of his career at Cessna. Although he performed many duties and filled various roles with the company over the years, his most notable job was that of aircraft delivery pilot. That job took him to many places, including Europe and South America. He remembered vividly how good the coffee was in Bogotá, Colombia.
He met his future wife, Joan, through Frank, a coworker and friend at Cessna. She was his coworkers' sister. Joan “Jo-An” Crawford and Dan would date for ten years and marry in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 8, 1969. They lived a long and happy life together. She preceded him in death by exactly five hours.
In his free time, Dan loved to read, with his interests being in American history and politics. He also loved to golf and play the guitar. He loved photography, and many of the family photo albums are filled with his work. In his retirement, he loved to watch cable news and kept up on current events. But his most prized possession was his 1939 Ford pickup truck, which he lovingly restored and took to car shows. Dan was a member of the Albert Pike Masonic Lodge, the Wichita Consistory and the Midian Shrine where he was a 32° Mason.
Dan is preceded in death by his wife, Joan; his parents, Roy and Gladys; his three siblings and their spouses: Charles (Robbie), Norma (Larry Schroeder), and Gerald (Joan); his brother-in-law, Frank Crawford; and sister-in-law, LaVonne Crawford.
He is survived by his nephew, Marty Crawford, and his niece, Angelia Crawford. He is also survived by his grand-nieces, Jessica Crawford and Brooke Crawford (and her fiancé Ryan Walkowiak); niece, Kathy Rice (H.B.); nephews, Robert Walker and Ben Walker; and niece, Anna Boyle.
The funeral service will be held at Resthaven Mortuary & Cemetery on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will begin prior to the service at 9:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at lovetotherescue.org.
