Henry Braden

Henry Frank Braden Jr., "Hank," was born August 20, 1925, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, son of Mercedes and Frank Braden. He departed this life on August 19, 2022, just one day shy of his 97th birthday.

A lifelong, devout Catholic, his faith was nurtured by attendance in Catholic schools. He first attended St. Joseph's in Muskogee, followed by the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a degree in Aeronautical Design Engineering. His college experience was in two parts, interrupted by WWII. He passed advanced fighter pilot training in Army Air Corp, just short of the war's end.

Early in high school, he met the love of his life, Vesta. They married in July, 1947, in Muskogee. Their beautiful love (bore six children) lasted until Vesta's death in 2013.

Hank's many aviation design supervisor credits include work on the Apollo Space program, Atlas missile silos, the 747, Space Shuttle, and B-1B. These many feats involved moving his ever patient wife and brood of young children across the country numerous times.

His interests included watching Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, engineering "fixing" things, often with duct tape and watching WWII movies. He also loved doing model airplanes and tending to his roses.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Vesta, and his son, Matthew.

He is survived by children Carol Laws (Bill) of Cookson, Joe Braden (Deborah) of Tulsa, Cathy O'Bannon (Hugh) of Cookson, Debbie Yager of Cookson and Greg Braden of Cookson, his sister Jan Sykes; 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Many nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives also survive him.

He was a great, loving man who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, friends may consider a donation to their favorite charity in his honor.