Dale A. "Lurch" Wilkens

Dale “Lurch” Allan Wilkens, 69, a beloved father, grandfather, partner, and friend, a man whose life was defined by strength, love, and unwavering devotion to his family, made his final taxi and crossed the finish line with a perfect light on Saturday, April 18, at St. John Hospital, Tulsa, OK.

Dale was the kind of man who showed up day in and day out- quietly sacrificing, providing, and protecting those he loved. His presence was steady, his guidance was wise, and his love was constant. Whether through his words, his actions, or simply the comfort of his presence, he made those around him feel safe, valued, and deeply loved.

Our father taught us the true meaning of resilience and integrity. He showed us how to work hard, stand tall in difficult moments, and care deeply for others. The lessons he passed down will live on through each of us, woven into the way we live, love, and carry ourselves.

To many, he was a friend, a mentor, and a source of quiet strength. To us, he was everything – a protector, a teacher, and our greatest supporter. Though our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing his love will never leave us. It lives on in our memories, our laughter, and the values he instilled in us.

He was born on October 8, 1956, in Wichita, KS, to Delbert and Carol (Craft) Wilkens. He attended elementary school in Wichita before moving to the Kansas City area, where he attended Junior High and High School. He graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1974. He then joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a military police officer at Fort Riley in Leavenworth, KS, until his honorable medical discharge in 1978.

It was at Ft Riley where he met and married Paula Lee. They moved to Independence, KS, where they started a family and raised their five children. They later divorced. Dale then opened R&D Auto, beginning his career as a business owner. In 1985, he went into business on his own, opening The Car Shop, Inc., which he continued as CEO and owner until his death.

Dale’s father, Delbert, was an avid pilot and helped him get his pilot’s license. Dale then went on to get his A&P certification, so he could work on his own planes, as well as those of his friends and neighbors. Dale and his father bought a 1956 Cessna 182, which they restored, and took it to AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, where it won multiple awards. Cessna 818H was their pride and joy! He was heavily involved in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) at the Independence Airport for many years, as it was important to both him and his father.

Dale was an avid drag racer, starting his drag racing career at Mo-Kan Dragway in Asbury, MO. He started with dragsters and then eventually transitioned to altereds. He was a founding member of the Outlaw Fuel Altereds. Even after he was unable to drive the cars due to injuries, he was still the owner, builder, and crew chief for cars in the Outlaw Fuel Altered and Nitro Chaos circuits. At the time of his death, he was the crew chief and owner of the Psycho Too outlaw fuel altered with son-in-law James Gilliland, driver. He was inducted into the Mo-Kan Dragway Hall of Fame in 2015, and the Southwest Missouri Drag Racers Hall of Fame in 2018.

Dale was a proud member of the Independence community and served on the Independence City Commission (1999-2001), as well as Mayor (2001-02). You would often find him out supporting community events.

He is preceded in death by his father, Delbert, and mother, Caral. He is survived by partner Marsha Girard of the home; children- Tiffany (Shaun) Reeves of Wichita, KS, Mandy (Travis) Monroy of Independence, KS, Ashley (James) Gilliland of Wann, OK, Sara (Justin) Tennison of Dewey, OK, and Caleb Wilkens of Kingsland GA; Grandchildren Shae (Austin) Warren, Hunter Reeves, Makenzee and Cameron Monroy, Taylor, Alena, Kourtney, and Colton Gilliland, Jaxon and Jarrett Tennison. siblings- Dena (Terrance) Wilson of Checotah, OK, Dion (Debbie) Wilkens of Independence, KS, Sue (John) Johnston of Canyon Lake, TX; many nieces and nephews, and many, many dear friends that he treated like family.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Webb-Rodrick Funeral Home, 306 West Main Street, Independence, with family receiving guests from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Services will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Tyro Christian Church. A celebration of life will be held at Mo-Kan Dragway Nitro Chaos on June 20th. We hope you join us for ‘Lurch’s Last Run’. More details to come.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Racers for Christ and the Reach One Teach One Foundation for the Dale “Lurch” Wilkens Scholarship for a student going into an Auto Technician program. Dale was a huge supporter of The Reach One Teach One Foundation, a nonprofit focused on at-risk youth, owned by Dale’s daughter, Mandy. Contributions may be made to the funeral home or received at the service.