Charles H. Dye Sr.

Charles Houston Dye, Sr., 93, of Tulsa, OK passed away on Saturday, April 3, 2021. He was born on March 5, 1928 to Robert and Pearl (West) Dye in Fort Gibson, OK. Charles attended Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, OK graduating in 1948. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. After receiving additional training in printing, he began work as a linotype operator in McKinney, Texas. In 1952, he moved to Tulsa. Charles worked for the Tulsa World and Tribune for 41 years, initially as a linotype operator then as a layout artist, until retiring in 1994. He married his best friend, Janet Ruth (Hurd) Dye in September 1951. They shared many years of marriage and memories together. Charles was a faithful and active member of Boston Ave. Methodist Church in Tulsa. Charles was an active member of the deaf community serving terms as Board President and Board Member of Tulsa Speech and Hearing Association, Inc. He received awards for his active volunteerism in the deaf community. He was active in the Oklahoma State School for the Deaf Alumni Association. Charles wrote extensively in the School for the Deaf Newsletter capturing the history of the experiences of the children attending. Charles was a powerful advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing communities, especially for children and young adults. Charles helped teach future generations of hearing people American Sign Language because of his willingness to bridge English and ASL and to share his time and his personal story. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet Ruth Dye; father, Robert Roy Dye; mother, Pearl M Dye; daughter, Susan E Dye; brothers, John C Dye, Robert Dye, Jr. and Billy Dye; sisters, Wanda Bradley and Rosa Lee James. He is survived by his sons, Charles Dye, Jr of Claremore, OK and Leslie Dye of Santa Fe, NM; brothers, Gene Dye of Muskogee, OK and Henry Dye of Fort Gibson, OK; sister, Ellen Logan of Muskogee, OK; granddaughters, Kelli Dye of Tulsa, OK, Natasha Freismuth of New Haven, CT and Mahriah Dye of Seattle, WA; grandson, Noah Dye of Los Angeles, CA; great-grandchildren, Luca Legarreta of Seattle, WA, Simon Freismuth of New Haven, CT and Benjamin Freismuth of New Haven, CT. A celebration of Charles’ life will be 10am, Friday, April 9, 2021 at Memorial Park Mausoleum with Emery Mason officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Charles Dye, Jr., Leslie Dye, Evan Taylor, Drew Taylor, William Medicine Crow and Joe Kennedy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Tulsa Speech and Hearing Association, Inc., 8740 E. 11th St, Tulsa, Ok 74112.

Charles H. Dye Sr.

March 5, 1928 - April 3, 2021