Loy Dell Wickware

Loy Dell (Garvin) Wickware, 76, of Weatherford, Texas, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2023 in Dallas, with her family by her side. Visitation: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2023, White’s Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2023, White’s Chapel of Memories. Interment: Memory Gardens of the Valley Memorial Park, 5600 Mineral Wells Hwy., Weatherford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, in Dell’s honor, to Weatherford College Foundation (wc.edu) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org). Dell was born October 17, 1946 in Weatherford, to Loyd and Frankie (Etier) Garvin. She went all through grade school in Weatherford and was a proud graduate of Weatherford High School (Class of 1964). Dell attended Weatherford College after graduation for one year and then transferred to North Texas State University. She graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Design (specifically clothing & textiles). After college, Dell moved to Dallas to go to work for Dwoskin Inc., an Atlanta based wallpaper and design company. She worked there for fifteen years. They sold wallpaper and fabrics to interior designers, contractors and builders. Dell became one of their top Sales Representatives and got to travel to many cities across the U.S. helping businesses design their office space. She met the love of her life, George Rhea Wickware, Jr. in 1979 in Irving, while he was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. They were married on July 18, 1980, and spent nearly 42 happy years together until Rhea’s passing last June. In 1982, they moved to North Richland Hills to be closer to Rhea’s job as a B-52 Pilot at Carswell Air Force Base. She became a homemaker with three children in school. Then, from 1986-1991, they were transferred to Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas. Dell became active in the Officer’s Wives Club and became a Bomber Squadron Welcomer for the wives of newly assigned personnel. She loved to help decorate for parties and welcome new families to the squadron. She and Rhea enjoyed many fun years in Arkansas, camping, water skiing, trout fishing, and sightseeing in the Ozark Mountains. After retirement in 1991, they moved to Weatherford to take care of her aging parents, and they have called Weatherford their home all these years. Dell was a proud and loyal wife, mother, step-mother, grandmother, sister-in-law and friend. She was a kind and beautiful soul with a true compassion for others. She carried God in her heart and was a true example of grace, generosity and trustworthiness. Her favorite pastimes were watching her grandchildren play sports, college football game days, cooking, watching cooking shows, gardening, sewing clothes, cross-stitching, knitting, playing the piano, playing spades, listening to music and going to garage sales and thrift stores to find fun treasures. She especially loved spending time with her family. Dell loved attending all celebrations for her kids and grandkids. She loved her beloved Class of ’64 reunions and parties, Parker County Women’s Newcomer’s Club, and American Legion Auxiliary Post 163. She always looked forward to Friday Night Hamburgers at the Legion with friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; and her beloved husband, Rhea. Survivors include her children, Robin Risinger Sefzik (Peter) of Dallas, Lisa Wickware Pelkey (Billy), of Kansas City, and Matt Wickware, of Kansas City; grandchildren, Jake Sefzik, Levi Sefzik, Jordan Sefzik, Joshua Ryun (Tiffany), Crissy Jackson (Ryne), Nikki Pelkey, Billy Pelkey (Shelby), and Taylor Pelkey (Saloni); great-grandchildren, Jesse Ryun, and Sophie, William, and Leo Jackson; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Sue Wickware, of Lafayette, Louisiana; nephew, Aaron Wickware (Leslie) of Covington, Louisiana; niece, Amanda Meland (Jason) of Florida.