Obituaries

Dale Lee Davenport

Photo of Dale Lee Davenport
Dale Lee Davenport, 76, of Fort Smith, passed from this life November 10, 2017 in Fort Smith. He was born, January 7, 1941, in Northwest Arkansas to the late Frank and Wanda Cleaver Davenport. Dale began his broadcast career in radio at the age of 17 in Springdale, Arkansas. His career took him to several states, including Connecticut, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio and Oklahoma and finally back to Fort Smith in 1985, where he went to work for Fred Baker at KISR. He was at KISR for 32 years as a Technical Engineer. Dale was responsible for keeping KISR on the air, as well engineering KRU, otherwise known as La Raza, and also KFSA 93.1. He also engineered a dozen other radio stations. He was an avid radio collector of antique radios, owning several museum quality pieces, and was active in several radio collector clubs. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Illa; two sons, Deserick Davenport and his wife Diana of Walker, Louisiana and Mike Ford and his wife Katie of Fort Smith; two daughters, Dana Haney and her husband Harold of Muldrow and Darci Wilbratte and husband Warren of Marrero, Louisiana; his brother, Charles (Bud) Davenport and his wife Myrtle of Springdale; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2017 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Viewing will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Edwards Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

Published November 15, 2017

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