Dale Adrain Defreece

CHESTERFIELD Dale A. DeFreece, of Chesterfield, formerly of Farmington, passed away August 23, 2017 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis at the age of 84. He was born June 25, 1933 in Rosie, Arkansas to the late Reverend V. E. Defreece and Sylvia (Ingram) Defreece. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, LaDon Lore DeFreece in 1997 and his second wife, LaVerne Lore DeFreece in 2015; and a brother, Dean DeFreece in 1956.

Dale graduated from Newport High School, Newport, Arkansas, and went on to proudly serve his country in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return to civilian life, he pursued his degree in engineering at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He then attended graduate school at University of Missouri at Rolla. In 1960 he began working as an astronautical engineer for McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis. During his long career there he worked on manned space flight programs, including Mercury and Gemini, collaborating with Werner Von Braun, John Glenn and other original astronauts. In 1967 he was appointed Project Manager for the McDonnell Douglas Skylab Space Station Program, at the

U. S. Space and Rocket Center, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. Upon completion of the Skylab Program Dale worked on the Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly known as the Star Wars Defense System. Later he was appointed Director of Nuclear Technology for McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing. At the time of his retirement he was Chairman of the Control Thermal Reactor Division of the American Nuclear Society. Dale was a long time member of Gideons International and a member of First Baptist Church of Ellisville where he served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, choir member, and sang in a men's barbershop quartet. He initiated a prison ministry at the Missouri Correctional Center in Pacific. More recently, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Farmington. In his spare time he enjoyed restoring old cars, reading and watching westerns and was an accomplished woodworker and gardener. Many friends and neighbors enjoyed Dale's various blends of homemade hot sauce.

Survivors include two daughters, LaRee DeFreece (Ken Gilberg) and Julie DeFreece (Christine Umbertino) ; four step-children, Dave Fitzgerald (Belva), Paul Fitzgerald (Robin), Danny Fitzgerald (Mary Ellen) and Lori Langley (Brad); numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sister, Jeanie Defreece Griffin ( Dr. Darrell Griffin); and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.

Friends may call at Cozean Memorial Chapel on Friday, August 25 from 5 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Farmington on Saturday, August 26 at 11 a.m. with Dr. Bill Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Parkview Cemetery, Farmington, Missouri. Memorials, if desired, may be made to Gideons International in care of the funeral home. View the online obituary and share your condolences at cozeanfuneralhome.com.

Visitation

Cozean Memorial Chapel & Crematory

Thursday, August 25, 2016 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM 217 W. Columbia St. Farmington, MO 63640 Directions Interment Service

Parkview Cemetery

Saturday, August 26, 2017 Weber Road North Farmington, MO 63640 Directions Funeral Service

Farmington First Baptist Church

Saturday, August 26, 2017 11:00 AM 210 North A Street Farmington, MO 63640 Directions