Edward Louis (Lou) Birmingham

Edward Louis (Lou) Birmingham, age 100, died June 20, 2015. He was born November 18, 1914 in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met his childhood sweetheart, Helen, to whom he was married for 62 years. He was a 1938 graduate of the University of Tulsa where he earned his degree in petroleum engineering. After college, Lou was employed by several major oil companies before starting his own company, Birmingham-Bartlett Drilling Company, in Wichita, Kansas. Under his supervision and with his expertise in petroleum engineering and geology, his company discovered, drilled, produced and owned many oil wells in Kansas. While in Wichita, Lou became a licensed, instrument rated pilot and flew his beloved Beechcraft Bonanza on many family fishing trips to Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas. For many years Lou and Helen would host family summer gatherings with their son and daughter and their children in Minaki, Canada. In the mid 1970's, Lou sold his oil company and he and his wife Helen moved to Gulfstream, Florida where they lived happily until 1996 when Helen died. He then moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas and made his home with his son Tom and Tom's wife Janie. Lou loved family gatherings, flying his plane, fishing and golfing. He and Helen traveled the world and at his death, at age 100 plus six months, there were no items left unchecked on his bucket list. Lou is survived by son Tom and his wife Janie Birmingham of Bella Vista, and a daughter Sandra and her husband Dr. Tom Kelly of Edwards, Co.; grandchildren: Jennifer McGehee of Apex, S.C.; Steve Jarmon of New York City, N.Y.; Lara Birmingham-Goldberg of Henderson, Nev.; Tiffany Clark of Norman, Okla.; Ted Birmingham of Tulsa, Okla.: step-grandchildren: Lance Lihou of Webb City, Mo., and Dori Galloway of Tulsa, Okla., and nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Services will held at 2 p.m.., Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. 72715. Interment will be at the Fairview Memorial Park, 1728 Mission Blvd, Fayetteville, Ark. 72703. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Lou's name to The Bella Vista Animal Shelter, 32 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, Ark. 72714 and or The American Indian Scholarship Fund, 8333 Greenwood Blvd, Denver, Colo. 80221. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.