George "Rhea" Wickware, Jr. Obituary

George Rhea Wickware Jr., 76, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022 in Weatherford.

Visitation:  6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2022, White’s Funeral Home, Weatherford.

Graveside Service:  10 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Memory Gardens of the Valley Memorial Park, 5600 Mineral Wells Hwy., Weatherford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, in Rhea’s honor, to American Legion Post 163, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the American Cancer Society

Rhea was born May 18, 1946 in Pittsburg, Kansas; the oldest son of George Rhea and Dorothy (Ensman) Wickware.

After grade school in Pittsburg, KS, Rhea attended High School in Lawrence, KS. He graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in psychology.

He proudly and bravely served his country in the United States Armed Forces. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1968, and would go into the United States Air Force in 1972 for pilot training. He graduated a year later in 1973. Rhea was stationed in Myrtle Beach, SC where he flew for Air Rescue and Recovery. In 1978, he was sent to Saudi Arabia as a Training Officer for Air Rescue and Recovery. In 1979 he was stationed at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls and from there was transferred to Carswell AFB flying B-52’s for Strategic Air Command. In 1986 he was transferred to Blytheville AFB in Arkansas. He would go on to retire in 1991, after 22 years of military service at the rank of Captain.

Rhea met the love of his life, Dell Garvin Risinger, and they were married on July 18, 1980, and they would go on to spend nearly 42 happy years together. After Rhea’s retirement from the Air Force, He and Dell would move to Weatherford, where they remained until Rhea’s passing.

Rhea was a Past Commander of Parker County American Legion Post 163, where he still served on the Executive Board. He is also a Past Commander of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 163.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his loving wife, Dell; children, Lisa Wickware Pelkey (Billy), of Kansas City, Matt Wickware, of Kansas City, Robin Risinger Sefzik (Pete), of Dallas; grandchildren, Joshua Ryun (Tiffany), Crissy Jackson (Ryne), Nikki Pelkey, Jake Sefzik, Levi Sefzik, Jordan Kay Sefzik, Billy Pelkey (Shelby), and Taylor Pelkey (Saloni); great-grandchildren, Jesse Ryun, Sophie, William, and another great-grandchild expected in January of 2023; brother, Mike Wickware (Sue); nephew, Aaron Wickware (Leslie); niece, Amanda Meland (Jason); and a host of other extended family members and friends.

Rhea was a great patriot, a fine man, and will be missed by all who knew him.