Richard Edward “Rick” Dellinger

Richard “Rick” Edward Dellinger, 87, of Smiths Station, AL died peacefully at Columbus Hospice House on Saturday, April 01, 2023 with his family by his side.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM (EST) on Tuesday, April 04, 2023 in the Chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home, Phenix City, AL with Rev. Charles Keown and Rev. Andrew Spires officiating. Pallbearers will be Trevor Elliott, Zachary Melton, Josh Gauntt, Jason Gauntt, Steven Bryant, Chad Bryant, Dennis Argo, and Gerry Cox. Interment with U. S. Air Force honors will follow in Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM till the funeral hour on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Dellinger was born July 10, 1935 in Elkhart, IN son of the late Joseph Moiser Dellinger and Rhea Gillespie Dellinger. He was an U. S. Air Force Veteran serving our Country proudly.  He earned his Bachelor of Science from Ball State University, his Masters from Perdue University and worked on his Doctorate at the University of Notre Dame. Rick flew planes for Delta Airlines, Libby Owens Ford, Jackson Community College and Auburn University. He was a Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Management with Auburn University at the time of his retirement in 1996.

After his official retirement, he joined Phenix Girard Bank working in Customer Service. This was really helping to meet and greet customers and their families. He absolutely loved doing this, and the children were drawn to him because of his talent to draw their names in shadow letters.

Mr. Dellinger was an active member of Lakewood Baptist Church, Lee County Gideons, Smiths Station Ruritan and the Smiths Station Republican Club. He was also known as the “1^st First Gentleman of Smiths Station” as his wife, Mrs. LaFaye was the first Mayor of Smiths Station, AL.

Mr. Dellinger was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Dellinger and Rhea Dellinger; his brothers, Carl Dellinger and James “Jim” Dellinger; his granddaughter, Kelley Underwood.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, LaFaye E. Cox Dellinger; three children, Jeffery “Jeff” Elliott (Donna), Melissa Elliott Gauntt (Danny) all of Smiths Station, AL, Lynne Morea (Dan) of New Hampshire, and one sister, Kathy Amos (Bill) of California; grandchildren, Trevor Elliott (Amanda), Zachary Melton (Courtney), Josh Gauntt, Jason Gauntt (Jennifer), Olivia Morea, Ashley Payne (Willie); great grandchildren, Ezra, Eden and soon to arrive Ruth Faye Melton, Brayden Horton, Rylee Dunn, Peter Gauntt, Darcee Wright, Remington Gauntt, Lex and Jag Payne; greatgrandchildren, Ezra, Eden and soon to arrive Ruth Faye Melton, Brayden Horton, Rylee Dunn, Peter Gauntt, Darcee Wright, and Remington Gauntt; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made in his memory to the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home, 1784 Elkahatchee Road
Alexander City, AL 35010 or Smiths Station Ruritan Club, www.smithsstationruritan.com or Lakewood Baptist Church, www.lbcpc.org .