Rickey Elaine (Dulinsky) Engle

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Rickey Elaine (Dulinsky) Engle

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 03:35
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Rickey Elaine (Dulinsky) Engle, 71, of Ponca City, passed away on April 7, 2021. Rickey was born to Anna Marie (Peters) and Richard Dulinsky, Sr. on November 7, 1949 in Ponca City. She grew up with her family in both the Ponca City and Blackwell areas before making a permanent home in Ponca City. Rickey started her educational journey in Blackwell before transferring and graduating high school from Ponca City High School. She attended college at Northern Oklahoma College (Tonkawa, OK) and graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a Master’s Degree in Education. She began her life-long teaching career when she returned to NOC to teach Speech and Drama after graduation.

Rickey was active in the local community theater program, the Ponca Playhouse, and it was here that Rickey met her husband, Oliver Frasier Engle. Rickey and Ollie were married in Ponca City on June 21, 1975. They continued their shared love of local theatre throughout their decades together, participating and even directing many plays.

After the birth of their first daughter, Olivia, Rickey transitioned to teaching home bound students for Ponca City Public Schools. Two years later they welcomed twin boys Oliver and Thomas. It was immediately evident just how mischievous twin boys could be. Together, Ollie and Rickey had four children: Olivia (Engle) McNamara, Dr. Oliver Richard Engle, Thomas Frasier Engle and Hailey Kathryn Engle.

When their children were in elementary school, Rickey accepted a position at Frontier Public High School in Red Rock, OK. It was during this time she reignited her love for teaching drama and debate. She also found a new love for teaching in rural Oklahoma. She often spoke fondly of her “second children” at Frontier. They all knew she would be there for them if they ever needed or asked, and she was a dedicated teacher at Frontier until her retirement.

During her summer breaks from teaching, Rickey taught swimming lessons at the YMCA and in her own backyard pool. Generations of kids learned to swim with Rickey, and these summers were her some of her happiest moments. After her retirement, Rickey poured her love into helping raise her grandchildren, splitting her time between Ponca City and Fairfax. She frequented their sporting and school events and always wore a huge infectious smile.

Rickey was a fierce protector and ultimate caregiver to all of her babies. If you were lucky enough to know her, she considered you family and you were under her protection. The generosity and kindness she showed to all who knew her was immense. She was the best! She did her part to leave this world better than she found it and for that we are forever grateful. She was a wife, mother, teacher and a best friend. She was a perpetual light for many in this life and that light will shine on in all the people she influenced.

Rickey was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Anna, her brothers Lee and Jon, and her husband Ollie. She is survived by her children: Olivia, Thomas and wife Ashley, Oliver and wife Debbie, Hailey, and son-in-law IV, and also by her beloved grandbabies: Hannah, Gavin, Anna Louise, Julia, Alyzabeth, Cam, Trystan, and TRE.

Funeral services will be held at 10am on April 15th, Grace Episcopal Church in Ponca City. Grave side service immediately following in the Catholic portion of IOOF Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rickey’s name at Grace Episcopal Church.

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