Richard E. Pinkstaff (Dick) 84, born to Reverend Earl and Grace Ford Pinkstaff on August 19, 1933 in Flat Rock, Illinois. Dick joined his heavenly father on January 18, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born into a parsonage family Dick lived his life according to the teachings of John Wesley. Dick graduated from Clay City High School in Clay City, Illinois. Dick was a Korean War Veteran serving in personnel at For Chaffee, Arkansas where he met and married his wife of 62 years Marlene Arthur. Dick graduated from McKendree College (University) Lebanon, Illinois in 1958. He received his MBA from the University of Tulsa in 1959 where he was Graduate assistant to Dr. Lyle Trueblood. He then joined A.E. Staley MFG Co. in Decatur, Illinois as the company's first Management Trainee. In 1962 he moved to St. Louis, Missouri in the Training Department of McDonald's Corp. Where he worked with the original seven Astronauts. He was part of the Training Department of Rockwell in Tulsa, Oklahoma then became the youngest Corporate Director of Training in the industry while with National Gypsum Company in Buffalo, New York. In 1970 he and his family returned to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he established the first Management Development and Technical Training Consulting firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During those 25 years Dick worked with many companies in the energy field eventually specializing in Pipeline Companies. Throughout his distinguished career he mentored many young trainers and management executives. He loved bringing out the potential of young people and guiding those in all levels of management to success. He developed numerous technical programs for the pipeline industry. He co-authored Personal Skill Building for the Emerging Manager, CBI Publishing. Dick created Appiliskills a process for developing training modules for industry. Dick was well known throughout the industry for his total honesty and high level of integrity. In the early days he volunteered with the city and with Federal programs for the underemployed. He was an active member of Boston Avenue UMC. He was a member of the American Society of Training and Development serving as President of Chapter. He listed in Outstanding Young Men of America and various Who's Who publications. Upon retirement he and Marlene lived their dream and traveling full time in their motor home where they traveled throughout Canada visiting all the provinces and several states in Mexico. They crossed the United States, east to west, north to south several times eventually wintering in Alamo, Texas just north of the border. Of course Dick never really retired working along the way with small towns helping them create booklets advertising their communities. Dick is survived by his wife Marlene, sons: Mark and Jay, 5 grandchildren: Summer McLemore(Mac), Anthony Pinkstaff, Benjamin William and Grant Pinkstaff, 3 granddaughters: Neveah McLemore, Serenity McLemore and Paieton Pinkstaff. Services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday January 25 at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. In Liew of flowers please donate to the music or youth endowment funds at the church or the Salvation Army. Service: 01/25/2018 00:00 2:00 PM Boston Avenue United Methodist Church