ROGER DEAN RINEHART passed from this life peacefully on April 6, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born June 17, 1931, in El Reno, Oklahoma. He married the love of his life, Ruby Jane Ogle in Tulsa during law school in 1955 and they returned to El Reno in 1956. He is survived by his daughter Mary Jane Dye and husband, Jeff, of Bixby; his son Roger Rinehart and wife, Anna of El Reno; grandsons Adam Dye and wife Mandy, Alex Dye and wife Mallorie, Aaron Dye and wife Jenna, Christian Rinehart and wife Kennade, and Nicholas Rinehart; and great-grandchildren Allison Dye, Wyatt Dye, Annabelle Dye, Winston Dye, Nora Dye, Colton Dye, Owen Dye, Cooper Dye, and Carter Dye
Dean was preceded in death by his wife Ruby, his mother Lena, his father Jim, his brother Jim Hugh, and his second wife Cheryl.
Dean grew up just off Route 66 on Hoff Street in El Reno and Graduated from El Reno High School in 1949. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1952 and received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1956.
Dean was a member of the American, Oklahoma, and Canadian County Bar Associations for 68 years and celebrated his 50th and 60th admission anniversaries with friends, family, and members of the Oklahoma Judiciary. He was a member of the Organizational Committee of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee of the O.B.A. and served as Chairman of the Committee from 1990-1993. Because of his service to the legal profession, Dean received the The Law and You Foundation “Community Interest Award”, and the “Distinguished Service as a Lawyer Award” from the O.B.A. in 1992. Under Dean’s leadership, the Committee established a state-wide help line for impaired lawyers and distributed thousands of pamphlets offering hope to members of his profession.
Dean’s life was exemplified by service to others. He made presentations at International Workshops on Lawyer Substance Abuse in San Diego, Mexico, and Prince Edward Island, Canada. Dean had been a “Friend of Bill W.” since January 1978 and very quickly began service work in that organization. He brought hope for restoration to countless friends and acquaintances around the globe, traveling as a Trustee-at-Large, a World Service Delegate, and member of the General Service Board to Brazil, New Zealand, Romania, Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, and throughout the United States.
Dean was a faithful member of the First Christian Church of El Reno since 1956 and had served as a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, and Elder. He was honored as an Elder Emeritus by members of the congregation.
Dean worked as an attorney on South Rock Island Avenue in El Reno with his father, the late Sen. Jim A. Rinehart from 1956 to 1977; with his brother Jim Hugh Rinehart from 1956 to 1997; and with his son Roger from 1989-2024. Dean received the El Reno Public School Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009 (and could still sing his high school alma mater in 2024!). Dean was a long-time board member of Russell Murray Hospice and served as Chairman for many years. Dean had been an active farmer/rancher since 1965 and loved introducing his children and grandsons to the cowboy life in western Canadian County.
Dean was active in his dad’s political campaigns and served as president of the Oklahoma League of Young Democrats in 1955 and served as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1964.
Dean was a leader in every area of interest in his life. He exemplified all that is right about the legal profession, often putting service above self. Never content to sit on the sidelines, Dean was always actively involved in making a difference in his family, community, state and nation and has instilled these values in his children and grandchildren.
Dean’s life of quiet service exemplifies a life well-lived. The family would like to give special thanks to Shannon Taylor, Samia Samad, the staff and residents of St. Katherine Drexel Retirement Center, and the caregivers at Mercy Hospital who cared for him during the last six months.
Memorial Services will be held at First Christian Church in El Reno at 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to First Christian Church of El Reno.
Posted online on April 08, 2024
Published in The Oklahoman
