Mrs. Mary Ann Dalton Rickert

Mary Ann (Winebrenner) Dalton Rickert, 95, of Greenwood, Ind., died Saturday, March 12, 2016, at IU Health Bloomington Hospice House. Born Dec. 13, 1920, in Huntington, Ind., she was the eldest daughter of Fred E. and Celia M. (Cramer) Winebrenner. She graduated from Huntington High School in 1939, and in 1943 she earned a bachelor of arts in music and English at Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis). Mary Ann taught for 33 years at the junior high and middle school levels in Marion County’s Perry Township schools, mostly teaching band, orchestra and English. She was a charter member of Women Band Directors International, including being international secretary for eight years, and was an adjudicator for bands at contests in Indiana. She married William W. Dalton on Aug. 22, 1943. A physician, he had a private practice for many years before working for Eli Lilly & Co. He died in 1998. Her second marriage, on Aug. 30, 2001, was to former high school classmate Robert L. Rickert, a retired photographer and family counselor. They lived in Huntington for several years before his health declined and they moved to Greenwood. He died in 2008. After retiring early from teaching in 1976, Mary Ann was a docent at the Indianapolis Zoo for 14 years, doing photography projects and presenting classroom educational programs that including handling snakes, skunks and birds. Her hobbies included travel photography, needlework, sewing and fishing. She and Bill were world travelers, visiting dozens of countries, islands ranging from Fiji to the Galapagos, and such exotic spots as the interior of King Tut’s tomb. She set foot on every continent except Antarctica – a trip she wished she had made. She was a member of Southport Presbyterian Church, where she was president of the women’s association. Survivors include her sister, Nancy McCracken of Baton Rouge, La.; a nephew, Mike McCracken (Trish) of Georgetown, Texas; nieces Barbara Nester of Amarillo, Texas, Susan Curry (Jimmy) of Richmond, Texas, and Peggy Sheets (Neal) of Baton Rouge, La.; great-nieces Erin Curry and Holly Eisenzimmer (Shawn); great-great nephew Gavin Eisenzimmer; step-children Mark Rickert (Ginny) of Centerville, Ohio, Beth Rickert-Kinsey of Fort Wayne, Ind., and her primary caregiver Janice Rickert (Carolyn VandeWiele) of Bloomington, Ind.; step-granddaughters Becky Rickert (Abby Martin) and Michele Borns (John); and step-great-grandsons Liam Martin and Levi Borns. Special thanks go to her longtime medical providers and friends, Dr. Daniel Hurley and his wife and nurse, Jennifer Hurley; the staffs at Greenwood Meadows and Bell Trace assisted living in Bloomington, where she spent portions of her final year while rehabbing from two surgeries; and the Bloomington Hospice House, where she received exceptional care while making a smooth and peaceful transition. An informal celebration of Mary Ann’s life will be 2-4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Card Room at Greenwood Village South, 295 Village Lane, Greenwood. Burial will be private at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. William W. and Mary Ann Winebrenner Dalton Music Scholarship fund at the University of Indianapolis. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory in Bloomington is handling arrangements. You can share a memory or leave an online condolence at www.allencares.com.

Tributes

Mrs. Mary Ann Dalton Rickert

December 13, 1920 - March 12, 2016