1934
David
2009
David Dickey
April 26, 1934 — December 26, 2009
D.Wendell Dickey 75, of Mission Hills, Kansas, passed away Saturday, December 26 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. His death takes from us a truly unique and wonderful person.
Wendell was born in Topeka, Kansas on April 26, 1934 to Flora and Robert O. Dickey. After moving to Kansas City, he attended Corinth grade school and graduated high school from Shawnee Mission in 1952. He earned his Eagle Scout award and was a member of the Mic-O-Say Tribe. Following in the footsteps of his great grandmother, Flora Richardson Coleman, who graduated in the first class of the University of Kansas in 1873, his grandmother, Nellie Coleman Bigsby, who graduated in 1900, and his mother, Flora Bigsby, in 1928, Wendell also went on to KU, and was thereafter amongst the proudest of Jayhawks. At KU, Wendell was a member of Sigma Chi as well as Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity. He graduated in 1956 and was commissioned in the Army, serving briefly in Japan. After returning from the service, he worked with his brother and father for the R.O. Dickey Company of Prairie Village, manufacturers’ representatives in the automotive after-market business. Wendell completed fifty years of work with this company, retiring in 2008.
Throughout his life, Wendell was an absolute gift to all in his presence. His motto in life was "to do things right and to do the right thing." He offered joy and laughter, support and dependability, honesty and integrity, and friendship and love beyond measure. His towering physical presence was matched only by his unceasing generosity of spirit. One never took leave of Wendell without feeling uplifted.
Wendell enjoyed his life to the fullest, with his Jayhawks, traveling, golf, music, great food, wine, and antiques. His wonderful sense of humor will be a lasting memory to everyone who knew him, and his hilarious and much anticipated answering machine messages will be missed. Wendell's love of animals was legendary, especially for his dog Buddy.
Wendell's boundless dedication to his family will be his legacy. Although technically both father and stepfather, the latter description was never part of his vocabulary; he truly gave and received love from everyone in his family without qualification He was preceded in death by his parents, Flora and R.O. Dickey and his brother, Robert Dickey. His best friend and wife of 37 years, Carol, survive him. His brother Jerry, wife Joann, brother-in-law Bob Philippi, wife Deborah Arendt, his children Dan, wife Vicki Brewster, Bob, wife Beth Dickey, Leslie Morgan, Liz, husband Steve Stoops, David, wife Rita Dickey, Sara, and husband Kelly Goodburn are Wendell's relatives. He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Kyle and Corey, Jenna, Carolyn, Michael, David, Jennifer, Erin, Meagan, Libby, Chase, Sydney, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of Flowers, Wendell wished donations be made to City Union Mission, Animal Haven, Kansas City Hospice, and Palliative Care. A private family service was held on December 30th, 2009, and a celebration of his life will be held in mid-May.
Wendell was born in Topeka, Kansas on April 26, 1934 to Flora and Robert O. Dickey. After moving to Kansas City, he attended Corinth grade school and graduated high school from Shawnee Mission in 1952. He earned his Eagle Scout award and was a member of the Mic-O-Say Tribe. Following in the footsteps of his great grandmother, Flora Richardson Coleman, who graduated in the first class of the University of Kansas in 1873, his grandmother, Nellie Coleman Bigsby, who graduated in 1900, and his mother, Flora Bigsby, in 1928, Wendell also went on to KU, and was thereafter amongst the proudest of Jayhawks. At KU, Wendell was a member of Sigma Chi as well as Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity. He graduated in 1956 and was commissioned in the Army, serving briefly in Japan. After returning from the service, he worked with his brother and father for the R.O. Dickey Company of Prairie Village, manufacturers’ representatives in the automotive after-market business. Wendell completed fifty years of work with this company, retiring in 2008.
Throughout his life, Wendell was an absolute gift to all in his presence. His motto in life was "to do things right and to do the right thing." He offered joy and laughter, support and dependability, honesty and integrity, and friendship and love beyond measure. His towering physical presence was matched only by his unceasing generosity of spirit. One never took leave of Wendell without feeling uplifted.
Wendell enjoyed his life to the fullest, with his Jayhawks, traveling, golf, music, great food, wine, and antiques. His wonderful sense of humor will be a lasting memory to everyone who knew him, and his hilarious and much anticipated answering machine messages will be missed. Wendell's love of animals was legendary, especially for his dog Buddy.
Wendell's boundless dedication to his family will be his legacy. Although technically both father and stepfather, the latter description was never part of his vocabulary; he truly gave and received love from everyone in his family without qualification He was preceded in death by his parents, Flora and R.O. Dickey and his brother, Robert Dickey. His best friend and wife of 37 years, Carol, survive him. His brother Jerry, wife Joann, brother-in-law Bob Philippi, wife Deborah Arendt, his children Dan, wife Vicki Brewster, Bob, wife Beth Dickey, Leslie Morgan, Liz, husband Steve Stoops, David, wife Rita Dickey, Sara, and husband Kelly Goodburn are Wendell's relatives. He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Kyle and Corey, Jenna, Carolyn, Michael, David, Jennifer, Erin, Meagan, Libby, Chase, Sydney, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of Flowers, Wendell wished donations be made to City Union Mission, Animal Haven, Kansas City Hospice, and Palliative Care. A private family service was held on December 30th, 2009, and a celebration of his life will be held in mid-May.
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