“Please don’t shoot the piano player, he’s doing the best he can.” Henry Oldham, the piano-playing, airplane-driving, life-of-the-party rocket scientist has laid his silver tongue to rest. He died peacefully in his sleep late evening on August 28, 2022.
Never known to be without his keyboard (you could always find one in the back of his car), Henry learned piano starting when he was five-years old and still played until his very last weeks. He said that his stubby fingers weren’t that of a piano player, but Henry was renowned for his virtuosity, especially his ability to play by ear. He usually had to hear a song once only before being able to play it and improvise. His music interests were as varied as the venues he performed in: from gospel, bluegrass, rock ‘n roll, and country, Henry played in churches, bars, at home, and virtually any function where there was a piano. His favorite tunes were too numerous to mention, but included most any song by Ray Charles, “Cast Your Fate to the Wind,” and a substantial amount of songs whose titles are inappropriate for publication.
A native of Athens, Ga., Henry attended both the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) and Georgia Institute of Technology, becoming the first person ever to graduate from both universities at the same time. Henry continued his studies at the University of Virginia, where he obtained a masters in aerospace engineering. A rocket scientist by education and trade, Henry also earned a commission in the United States Army, where he served as an engineer in the reserve corps and deployed to South Korea.
Henry moved to Huntsville in 1970s, where he was active in the Huntsville Jaycees, the Rotary Club, and eventually the Sons of the American Revolution, among countless other civic and professional organizations. In the late 1980s, Henry started a successful defense contracting firm, Dynamic Analysis. At the same time, Henry and several others were instrumental in renovations to the Huntsville International Airport, where Henry served on the board for nine years including a stint as chairman. All the while, Henry continued to serve in the Army Reserve with the 87th MAC, graduating from the Army War College in 1989 and obtaining the rank of colonel before retiring in 1998. Henry sold DynAl shortly after retiring from the Army and spent the next many years traveling with his wife, Wynn, and remaining active professionally, civically, and socially in Huntsville.
Much like piano playing, aviation was a part of Henry’s identity. Henry owned a Piper Lance II and — not one to pass up an opportunity to employ his wry sense of humor — eventually registered the craft as White Knuckle Airways with the FAA, developed a logo (the plane crashed into a tree) and slogan (“Fly Lo-N-Slo”), and purchased enough WKA merchandise to stock a small department store. He flew for decades, transporting friends and family around the country, most memorably with his sons to the Oshkosh fly-ins in the 1990s.
Henry’s personal and professional travels took him to England, Ireland, France, Italy, Singapore, Luxembourg, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and countless destinations in the United States. His charismatic and engaging personality, genuine interest in learning about people and events around him, and quick wit will be missed by all who knew him.
Henry Nevel Oldham was born on April 29, 1943 in Athens, Ga. He was preceded in death by his wife Wynn Hamilton Oldham and by his father and mother, Arthur Sears and Florrie Mae Oldham. He is survived by children John (Dawn) of Huntsville, Michael (Robyn) of Woodstock, Ga.; and Laura McCann (Morgan) of Nashville, Tenn.; five grandchildren; and an innumerable list of beloved relatives and friends.
His memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6 at the Wesley Center of First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating.
In lieu of flowers, Henry asks that individuals wishing to donate give to the Rotary Foundation, Huntsville First United Methodist Church, Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, or Bridges for Parkinson’s.
