Ray Allen Dickey

Dickey, Ray Allen. July 4, 1937 – January 18, 2022

Ray Allen Dickey of Arlington, Texas, was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma on July 4, 1937, to Roy and Lois (Merritt) Dickey. The younger of two children, Ray attended grades K through 12 in Chickasha, graduating in 1955. During this time, he was active in high school sports, playing on the varsity football and baseball teams until his senior year, when he was sidelined by an injury to his back.

He then continued his education at Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), graduating with degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1959.

Ray initially worked as an engineer for the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St Louis before taking a role at the Martin Company in Denver. Ultimately, he made his way to North Texas and joined Vought Aircraft in 1962, where he spent the remainder of his career before retiring in 1995. During his career he made significant contributions to the design of the Mercury space capsule, the F8U and A7 fighter aircraft, and the B2 stealth bomber.

Ray married the love of his life, Barbara Wells, in 1960, and they remained together until her passing in 2020.

Ray’s passions were woodworking (he was a very accomplished woodworker and enjoyed this hobby for decades), hunting and fishing, and cooking.
He often delighted in crafting dishes that might be considered to be out of the ordinary just to see if he could do it – and he nearly always succeeded.

He also had an uncanny ability to make friends of strangers. He approached strangers with ease; there were few who didn’t consider him to be a friend just minutes after meeting him.

Back problems, tied to the injury he suffered in high school, plagued him in later life and limited his mobility in a way that ultimately contributed to his passing.

He is survived by his son Stu Dickey and wife Karen, both of Arlington, son Scott Dickey and wife Cynthia of Woodinville, Washington, and by his sister-in-law Carol Wells of Denver, Colorado. He also is survived by his grandchildren who were the joys of his life; Logan Dickey, Ryan Wdowik and Drew Wdowik, all of Arlington, and Kristin Dickey of Woodinville. Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Dickey of Arlington, and his sister, Paula Stewart, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Services are pending; in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wings for Life USA Spinal Cord Research Foundation (www.wingsforlife.com).