OBITUARY-GAIL E. BRINKMAN (SPAULDING)

On January 5 ^th , 2022, Gail E. Brinkman left this physical life to begin a new spiritual life everlasting with our heavenly Father at the age of 64.

Gail was born on November 29, 1957, at Eglin Air Force Base hospital in the panhandle of Florida to Annie and William Spaulding.  Being a military "brat" Gail lived in several locations throughout the world.  She graduated high school in Aviano Italy as salutatorian of her class and attended the University of Maryland in Munich Germany for her first year of college.  She continued her education at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  After graduating in 1979 with a chemical engineering degree, she moved to Los Angeles, California and began her career in aviation with Rockwell International as a materials and processes (M&P) engineer.  This is where she met her loving husband, Charles (Chuck).

After marrying, Gail and Chuck moved to San Diego, CA, and she continued her career in aviation with General Dynamics Corporation in the M&P department.  In 1986 She received an EXCEL award as employee of the year in the Engineering department.  Gail advanced within the M&P department in positions of more responsibility and ultimately earned the title of Engineering Manager.  Due to a downturn in the defense industry in 1992, Gail moved to Wichita, KS, and took a position as director with the National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) on the campus of Wichita State University.  Chuck joined Gail in Wichita where they lived until they retired.

The opportunity to start a new company peaked Gail's interest in 1995.  She accepted the challenge of becoming president of a small startup safety seat company for general aviation.  In that capacity she was responsible for design, manufacture, assembly and testing of the seats as well as helping to procure funding.  Sales were slow, so the company was not successful, but Gail never regretted taking the risk.

Unfortunately, in 1998 Gail was diagnosed with a primary anaplastic oligodendroglioma brain tumor, grade D, in her left frontal lobe.  Grade D is the most severe grade of that type of tumor.  She received treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.  After the tumor was removed, she received a month-long course of radiation to the brain followed by nine months of chemotherapy.  Although the treatment was very aggressive, Gail led a very productive and active life, even receiving an MBA from Newman University in Wichita.

In 2002, Gail received a group achievement award from NASA for her participation in an AGATE (Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments) project.  The award was presented for taking on "very difficult technical challenges while simultaneously creating a new model for government-industry-university collaboration in R&D" (research and engineering).

The tumor and treatment finally caught up with Gail in 2009, eleven years after the tumor was diagnosed.  She could no longer perform at the high level she expected of herself.  Gail quit work and applied for disability.  That same year her husband Chuck retired from Cessna, and they moved to Beatrice, NE, to be with Chuck's family.

In Beatrice Gail spent quality time with Chuck's family for birthdays, holidays and local events.  She volunteered at the Gage County Historical Society recording the history of rural Beatrice and the surrounding area.  Gail and Chuck were regular attendees at the First Presbyterian Church in Beatrice; both were re baptized.

In 2014 Gail and Chuck embarked on their next big adventure and moved to Palm City, FL, to be with Gail's family.  Life was good until 2017 When Gail suffered a series of severe urinary tract infections.  In and out of the hospital several times took its toll and she ended up severely disabled, mentally and physically.  She was always trying to recover from the last setback.  Although it was difficult, Gail and Chuck spent much quality time together until her untimely death.  Her favorite pastime was the short walks every morning after breakfast and visiting friends and family.

Gail is survived by her husband of 38 years, Chuck.  They had no children, but were blessed to have two beautiful Shetland sheepdogs, Sheeba and Brutus, for several years.

Gail will be missed by her family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at Forest Hills Memorial Park at 11:00 A.M., on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Brain Tumor Society in memory of Gail Brinkman.