Dale A. Fester

Dale A. Fester (Nov 7, 1932 – May 7, 2023)

Dale was born in Sterling, Colorado on November 7, 1932. He was the only child of Arthur and Mabel Fester who farmed south of Fleming in northeast Colorado. He attended New Haven School in 1st through 3rd grades. When he was seven, they moved to the mountains where his father worked in a lead and zinc mine above Montezuma in Summit County for six months. Dale attended Montezuma School the 1st half of 4th grade. They then moved to Denver where Dale attended Gilpin, Emerson, and Eagleton elementary schools, and Lake Junior High. He graduated from West High School in 1949 and the University of Denver, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953 and a Master of Science degree in 1961, both in Chemical Engineering.

He is survived by four children, Robert Fester (Nikki), Laurie Johnson, Terri Witkop (Russell), and David Fester (Paula), 16 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He married Elinore Miller (deceased), the love of his life, on June 14, 1953, the day after he graduated from DU. Upon graduation, he worked for Philips Petroleum Company in Borger, Texas and then served two years in the Army at Fort Ord California, Fort Monmouth New Jersey, and White Sands Proving Ground New Mexico. Dale then worked for GOG L of Consulting Engineering and University of Wisconsin Solar Energy for six years.

After receiving his Master's degree, Dale worked for Martin Marietta Astronautics in Denver for 32 years, and then formed Denver Space Systems where he consulted for other space companies for three years. In his 35 years in the aerospace field, Mr. Fester served as a specialist in propulsion and fluid management, thermal control, post-boost propulsion, design of satellite, telescope, and high-energy laser systems and advanced exploration initiatives. He worked on propulsion solutions for Apollo, the Mars Viking Lander, the Manned Maneuvering Unit and aspects of the Space Shuttle. He also evaluated numerous space systems technologies for NASA and the Air Force. He was an internationally recognized expert in low-gravity fluid management and cryogenic systems and authored more than 150 technical papers and reports. He was a lifetime fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he served on the board of directors for ten years, was the U.S. Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation for four years and was a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

He loved scouting and was an Eagle Scout in Denver Troop 68, formed Cub Scout Pack 498 in Bear Valley (Denver), and served as Cubmaster. He was a founding member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, the National Air and Space Society, the American Air Museum in Britain, and was listed in several Who's Who publications.

He was a long-time member of Red Rocks Fellowship (formerly Grace Baptist Church), where he served as a teacher, greeter, trustee, deacon, elder, moderator, and chairman/president. As a born again Christian, he loved teaching his Sunday school class from high school to senior ladies to adults and particularly enjoyed his "Through the Bible" class. He urges all of you to make sure you know Jesus and where you will spend eternity. He will be overjoyed to be with Elinore again, and they both will be waiting to see all their children and their spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends in heaven.

To view the live stream of the service please click here.