Gary Edward “Papa” Dickinson, 73, of Hutchinson, died March 14, 2022, at his home. He was born January 25, 1949, in Hutchinson, to Russell B. and Helen E. (Haley) Dickinson.
Gary graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1967, Hutchinson Community College in 1969, and the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in 1972. He owned Self Service Drugs from 1981 until 2005. Gary and Nyla also operated Kansas Depot, selling everything related to Thomas the Train. After retirement, he worked at the Kansas State Fair for 15 years. Gary was an avid Blue Dragon basketball fan and a religious water aerobics participant at the YMCA. He loved traveling and traveled to all 50 states and to Maui, Hawaii, every year with Nyla. Gary especially loved spending time with his family and supporting his grandchildren in their activities - he played music at Inman, Nickerson, and Hutchinson High school baseball games. He was a member of Downtown Hutchinson Kiwanis Club, serving as Club President and leading the Flag Project, and First United Methodist Church.
On May 15, 1981, Gary married Nyla K. Christian, in Hutchinson. She survives.
Also surviving are: children, Noelle Regehr (Jeff) of Inman, Jeff Reece (fiancé Amy Ray) of Prairie Village, Jennifer Miller (Cody) of Benton, TN; grandchildren, Jake Regehr (Traci), Wyatt Regehr, Ethan, Erin, and Adaire Reece, Miranda Miller, Lane Miller (Haley); great-grandsons, Jaxson and Greyson Miller; and many extended family members.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; brother, Russell B. Dickinson, Jr., and in-laws, Leslie and Maybelle Christian.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2022, at Elliott Chapel. Burial will follow in Lerado Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with family present to receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary. The service will be livestreamed and the link to view it will be in his obituary on Elliott’s website.