Carl Dellinger

Carl Gene Dellinger left this earthly life to rejoin the love of his live, Willa (Russell) Dellinger, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 19 days. Carl was born in Albany, Okla. to Ollan (Cliff) Dellinger and Maudie E. Stricklen.

He married Willa Russell in Durant, Okla. on May 29, 1959, at Fairview Baptist Church.

Carl was a member of Calvary Baptist and later attended Bushnell Baptist church. He was a 1953 graduate of Alma High School in Alma, Neb. After serving his country in the Army, stationed in Germany from 1953-1956, he moved to Durant and attended Southeastern State College, graduating with a BS in Education in May 1961. He later received his Master’s degree from Southeastern State University during the summer of 1978.

Carl retired from his teaching career in May 1993 at Piner Middle School in Sherman, Texas after teaching for 32 years in schools Buckner Baptist Children Home in Dallas, Texas (5 years); R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas (4 years); Colbert High School in Colbert, Oklahoma (5 years); Piner Middle School in Sherman, Texas (18 years). After retirement, Carl could be found watching college football and softball along with old war or western movies, fishing, hunting, tinkering with anything mechanical, camping with family or watching his grand-children and great grand-children along with several nieces and nephews playing sports of any kind.

Mr. Dellinger is survived by children, Nancy Rodgers of Paris, Texas and Ricky Dellinger of Durant, Okla.: grandchildren: Misty Foster and companion Jason Shay of Durant, Oklahoma, Matthew Rodgers and companion Brittany Copeland of Durant, Okla, and Jared Dellinger of Durant, Okla.: great-grandchildren: Blake Foster, Macy Shay-Rodgers, Makayla Shay-Rodgers, Brooklyn Shay-Rodgers, Harley Shay-Rodgers, Marley Shay, Jaci Shay, Faylynn Rodgers, and Camdyn Dellinger, along with grandson-in-law AJ Foster of Durant and granddaughter-in-law Cassandra Wells of Anadarko as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and former students that he cherished.

Carl was met at the gates of heaven (preceded) by his loving wife, Willa; parents; sisters, Barbara (Sissy) Dellinger and Joy Parr, along with sons-in-law, Tony Rodgers and Greg Gorda.

Family hour will be from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at the Holmes-Coffey-Murray Chapel in Durant, Okla.

A celebration of his life will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at Highland Cemetery in Durant. Pallbearers will be Rusty Parr, Paul Dobbs, Tod Dellinger, Tommy Dellinger, John Dellinger, Nathan Stricklen, Kelly Stricklen, and Raymond Daniels.

Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla. www.holmescoffeymurray.com