Obituaries

Dulcie Jean Schillinger

Posted

Dulcie Jean (Van Slyke) Schillinger, 93, died Dec. 7 at Saint Anthony Hospital. She was born the daughter of a pioneer and a farmer in Vaughn Sept. 27, 1928, just two years after electricity arrived on the Key Peninsula.

Dulcie attended Vaughn Grade School (now the Key Peninsula Civic Center) until 1942 at the end of seventh grade, when the Van Slyke family moved to Tacoma where she attended Jason Lee Junior High and Stadium High schools.

In 1946, Dulcie married Ron Schillinger Sr. of Victor. By 1952, when she was 24 years old, she had three small children: Ron Jr., Susan and Denise. Dulcie and her husband built their home together in Vaughn on land that had been owned by the Van Slykes for three generations.

In 1953, Dulcie began teaching swimming and life-saving every summer on the Key Peninsula for the Red Cross and Pierce County. She received a bachelor’s degree in teaching from the University of Puget Sound in 1964 and taught home economics, child development and family relations at Peninsula High School for 10 years.

She was a charter member of Vaughn Bay Church, where she was also a deaconess, pianist and board member. The Vaughn PTA honored her with a lifetime membership award for her leadership activities in 1960. She was part of the group that acquired what is now the civic center from the Peninsula School District and served as secretary in its early years. She was a board member and treasurer of the KP Historical Society and a board member, secretary and historian for the Vaughn Bay Cemetery.

Dulcie was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Dorothy Van Slyke; husbands, Ron Schillinger, Sr. and Tyman Fikse; brother, Chester Van Slyke; and daughter, Susan Rouse. She is survived by her son, Ron (Janet) Schillinger, Jr.; and daughter, Denise (Steve) Wood; and son-in-law, Richard (Beth) Rouse; sisters-in-law Patti Schillinger and Betty Van Slyke; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial donations can be made to the KP Historical Society or the Vaughn Bay Cemetery, where Dulcie is buried.


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