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DICKEY -- Rodger Lynn Dickey (nee Selbe) - 1955-2011. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Rodger graduated Mulvane High School in Mulvane, Kansas in 1972. He worked to put himself through Kansas State University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering in 1977. He then went on to receive his Masters of Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1979. He espoused the philosophies of the University's founder, Thomas Jefferson, and enjoyed living in one of the historical buildings on the campus. Following graduation, Rodger worked throughout the nuclear industry, most recently at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a nuclear safety professional with a PE license in both Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Rodger deeply valued ethics and adhered to the highest safety standards the guiding principles of his professional career. Rodger earned the admiration of his colleagues for both his technical ability and team-building and was a member of many professional organizations, including the American Nuclear Society. In his personal life, Rodger was a loving husband and devoted friend. He was truly a warm, compassionate human being, who treasured close relationships and took an active interest in the well-being of all those around him. He was especially interested in reaching out to the young people in the family to inspire them to learn about the world, sciences such as astronomy and the humanities. Rodger's life-long love of hiking and snowshoeing began as a Boy Scout. He amazed his family with his canoeing skills, and was a lifetime member of the Sierra Club. As a member of the Tupper Family Association whose ancestors included Prime Minister Charles Tupper of Canada, Rodger was proud of his Yankee and maritime roots and enjoyed occasional times at sea. He also enjoyed his many travels with his beloved wife, Ginny, including many visits to the National Parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from Antarctica to the Arctic. Coming back home was made all the more special by the opportunity to reconnect with beloved family pets. Rodger particularly loved hosting dinner parties for friends, where everyone wanted to be on his team in Trivial Pursuit. Among other interests, Rodger kept an extensive personal library spanning a breadth of subjects, from history to philosophy, art, science, music and literature, and was an avid reader throughout his life. He had a remarkable memory and foreign languages came easily to him, including Spanish and Russian, and he spent time abroad studying German. Rodger is preceded in death by his father, Dennis Selbe, and brother, David Selbe. He is survived by his wife, Ginny, his mother-in-law Betty McIntyre-Allen and step-father-in-law, Charles Allen, brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Michelle Selbe, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Dorothy McIntyre, many dear nieces and nephews, and numerous other family members. A funeral service is planned for family members, and a celebration of Rodger's life for both family and friends will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society as a memorial to Rodgerss love of animals. Most of all, dear Rodger, you are deeply missed by so many whose world you made a kinder place.
        Published on: Sun March 27, 2011