Rickey Elaine (Dulinsky) Engle

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 lived with her family in both Ponca City and Blackwell before making a permanent home in Ponca City. Rickey attended school in both places, graduating high school from Ponca City High School. She attended Northern Oklahoma College and graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a Master’s Degree in Education. She began a life-long teaching career when she returned to NOC to teach Speech and Drama. Rickey enjoyed an active role in the Ponca Playhouse, where she met her husband, Ollie Engle. Rickey and Ollie were married in Ponca City on June 21, 1975. They continued their shared love of local theatre participating in many plays throughout their decades together. Rickey transitioned her classroom teaching career to teaching home bound students for Ponca City public schools from her home after she and Ollie had children. Together, Ollie and Rickey had four children, Olivia (Engle) McNamara, Tom, Oliver, and Hailey Engle. Returning to the classroom, Rickey accepted a position at Frontier Public High School. She was a dedicated teacher there 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. Teaching in the pool were her happiest moments. After her retirement, Rickey poured her love into helping raise her grandchildren and spilt her time between Ponca City and Fairfax. 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. The generosity and kindness she showed to all who knew her was immense. 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, Tom and wife Ashley, Oliver and wife Debbie, Hailey, and son-in-law IV. And her beloved grand-babies, Hannah, Gavin, Anna Louise, Julia, Alyzabeth, Cam, Trystan, and Tre. She was the best. She did her part to leave this world better than she found it and for that we are forever grateful. 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 Church.   Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.

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