Paul Sanford Faidley, Sr.

Paul Faidley was born to Alexander and Ester Faidley in Clay Center, KS on July 6, 1936. (He always said he was a leftover firecracker!) Paul grew up on the family farm in Wakefield, KS. Upon graduation from Clay Center High School, he enrolled at Kansas State University where he earned a degree in Animal Husbandry. Paul never lost his love for any and all things Kansas State. KSU purple remained his favorite color until the day he died. Paul enrolled in Army ROTC at KSU which changed his life forever. The thoughts of being a farmer like his father changed to being an Army Officer and Aviator. Upon receiving a commission as a 2LT, Paul attended flight school and subsequently spent five years on active duty flying helicopters including a tour in Vietnam. He next joined Southern Airways teaching the Army Primary Helicopter Course at Ft. Wolters in Mineral Wells, TX. While there, he met Ann Calcaterra of Fort Worth, TX. They married on May 20, 1966. They had 3 sons together and remained married until her death on March 28, 2018. After a brief stint teaching Army Helicopter Training at Ft. Rucker, AL, Paul began his 26-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration. He started with the FAA at Redbird Airport, in Dallas, TX as an Aviation Safety Inspector. Then spent time at the Flight Safety District Offices at Love Field and Baton Rouge. When he retired from the FAA in 1996, he was at the Southwest Regional Office in Ft. Worth as an Inspector with the Aircraft Evaluation Group. Paul also served as a Warrant Officer in the Army National Guard and later the Army Reserve retiring as Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 1996. His National Guard and Reserve service allowed him to continue his life-long love of Army Aviation. His aviation accomplishments are numerous. He was rated in over 20 different aircraft types including most fixed and rotary wing aircraft, gyrocopters, and hot air balloons. Paul is listed on the Fort Worth Aviation Wall of Honor. Paul was preceded in death by his parents Alexander & Ester Faidley, brother Karl Faidley, sister Betty Faidley, and wife Ann Faidley. He is survived by brother Donald Faidley, brother Dean Faidley and wife Lola, son Paul Jr. and wife Ann, son Bradley, son Wesley, stepdaughter Roseanna Laws, and grandchildren Geneva Faidley, Brandon Faidley, and Austin Bailey Laws. Visitation will be at West-Hurtt Funeral Home in DeSoto, TX on Saturday, June 19 from 5-7 p,m. Funeral service will be on Monday, June 21 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of DeSoto, TX. Interment/Graveside service, with Military Honors, will be on Tuesday, June 22 at 11 a.m. at DFW National Cemetery. The family would like to encourage attendees of the funeral to wear purple. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation or the First United Methodist Church of DeSoto.