Dorothy "Dot" Rickman

Dot Rickman lived a happy, successful, long, and fulfilling life, passing away peacefully on June 9, 2024, following a brief illness. Her extraordinary life will inspire her family and friends for generations to come.

Dorothy Elizabeth Looney Rickman was born the youngest of three children on September 19, 1928 to John Lowell and Hazel Wood Looney and grew up in Columbus, Mississippi. After high school, Dot attended Mississippi State College for Women.

She married Leon “Red” Rickman also from Columbus, a returning WW2 U.S. Marine Corps veteran, in July 1947. They began their family with their first son, William, born in June 1949.

In 1952, they moved to Wichita, Kansas, a bustling post-war airplane manufacturing center, to become part of an exciting and growing industry. There, they grew their family, welcoming Randy and Sandra and together created a lifetime of adventures and opportunities.

In 1960, Dot joined the marketing department at Beech Aircraft and spent the next 31 years with the company until her retirement in 1991. During her career, she distinguished herself as the first woman to be accepted into the Beech Management program, ultimately becoming Supervisor of Airplane Billing. After her retirement, she became an accomplished, award winning fine artist.

Dot was adventurous and always up for fun, a real Renaissance woman. From card playing, trap shooting and hunting, to theatre, music and dancing, to fishing, skiing, boating and water aerobics, to playing with grand and great grandkids, and so much more, she did it all. She was a member of the Golden B Club, Kansas Art Guild and Kansas Trap Association (KTA).

After Red retired, they began wintering in Arizona. They continued to travel throughout the country, visiting almost all 50 states. Soon after he passed in 2016, Dot moved to Overland Park, Kansas, to be near her daughter Sandy and family and enjoy life in a vibrant independent living community.

Dot built her life on faith, family and friends. Her home was as beautiful and welcoming as she was gracious and caring. Always a class act and fashion forward, she was thoughtful, offering a kind word, a listening ear, and sound advice. A devout Christian, she was a long time and involved member of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Wichita, and attended services at Church of the Resurrection during her years in Overland Park.

Dot’s family included her husband of 69 years, their three children, Bill (Gail) Rickman, Randy Rickman, and Sandra Rickman (Mike) Malone, eight grandchildren, Amy Rickman (Ben) Gregory, Rachel Hadley (John) Vautier, William London, Bryon (Heather) London, Katie Bartow (John) Phillipps, Samantha, Tim, and Elliott Bartow, 10 great grandchildren, Chase, Grayson (Claire), Drew Elizabeth, Annabelle, Mac, Callie, Addie and Sylvie London, Lyla and Shep Phillipps, her nieces and nephews, and the Malone family, Kris Ann, Chase, Casey (Shannon) and Hailey. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Hazel Looney, her two brothers, Monroe and Clarence, her husband, Leon, and her son, Randy.

The family will host a Celebration of Life in Leawood, Kansas, at Church of the Resurrection Leawood, Wesley Chapel, on Tuesday, July 23 at 2 PM. A reception will follow.

A memorial service will be held in Wichita, Kansas, at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, on Friday, July 26 at 1 PM, with a burial service following at Lakeview Cemetery.

To honor Dot Rickman, the family suggests contributions to Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kansas.