Dennis Eugene Dwyer

Dennis was born in Ponca City, OK, to Thomas and Evelyn Dwyer. He grew up in Ponca City, spending lots of time with his maternal grandparents, H.H. and Lula Dean, sister, Deana, and brother, Michael. Dennis graduated from Ponca City High School in 1962 and went on to study and graduate from OSU with a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science. 

Dennis will always be remembered for his quick wit and his sense of humor. While in high school, he spent plenty of time making mischief with Mike, Terry Nixon, Brian Harpster, and Bill Gillogly, to name a few. They all enjoyed planning and playing pranks on each other and maybe even other community members. The good fun carried over into college, where he and Terry roomed together and enjoyed running a weekly poker game that is credited with helping fund his college education. After graduation, Dennis served in the Marine Corps. He spent time serving at 29 Palms/Camp Pendleton in California, where he earned his National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Marksman designation. Upon returning home, he continued to serve in the Army reserves as a Drill Sergeant. During this time, Dennis married Judith Ann Nixon. Together, they raised two children, Ron and Susie. Much of their childhood was spent riding and showing horses. Dennis was not a horseman, but without him none of this would have been possible. Dennis always made sure the barns were in perfect shape and was in charge of all transportation, stall cleaning, arena working and horse tack changes. Dennis was a lifelong learner and educator. He loved science and teaching kids how science impacted the world around them. He was also a survivor of many, many years as a drivers ed instructor! Dennis was also an outstanding school administrator, mentoring many teachers as well. In 1989, Dennis began what would become an almost 20-year adventure teaching overseas. He taught in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China, and South America. While abroad, he met and later married his second wife, Gail Moran. Together, they had many traveling and overseas experiences. After retirement, Dennis spent his life helping his wife, children, neighbors, and friends. Dennis spent his days cleaning up yards for neighbors who were not able, traveling the state helping his kids with various projects, and sometimes just lending an ear and dispensing words of wisdom to those in need.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister Deana, and by his first wife Judith, and his second wife, Gail, and also his great-granddaughter Lauren Lyle. He is survived by: brother Michael Dwyer; children Ron and wife Alice Dwyer and children Jessica, Tory and Madison; Susie and husband Michael Buser and children Guy, Kaleigh, Jake and Ryleigh; stepson Jeff and Donna Portwood and children Katrina, Julianne, Joshua, and Lucy; and great-grandchildren Ford, Palmer, Eli, Everett, and Brixton.