1957 - 2025
Ricky L. “Rick” Ulbrich passed away at the Kansas Veterans Home on July 6, 2025, at the age of 67.
Rick was born on November 24, 1957, in Winfield, Kansas, to Ernest Paul Ulbrich and Helen Smelser Ulbrich Dobbs. He grew up in Burden, Kansas, and graduated from Central High School in 1976. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he proudly served for four years. After returning from the Navy, Rick completed his degree in Vocational Electronics through Cowley College.
While in the Navy, Rick was stationed aboard the USS Goldsborough and advanced to the rank of Second-Class Petty Officer in Electronic Communications. He completed a Westpac tour, visiting several countries overseas, and spent three years stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, working in Interior Communications. He became an avid aeronautics enthusiast and earned his private pilot’s license from the Hawaii Air Academy and then began working on his commercial rating. Throughout his life, he never missed an opportunity to learn about aviation, especially his favorite planes, the Cessna 152 and the SR-71 Blackbird.
While on leave, he reconnected with Gloria Gordon, a high school classmate. Rick and Gloria were married on September 26, 1980, and have been happily married for over 44 years.
Rick worked at Gordon Piatt, Rubbermaid, and later Sigma-Tek in Augusta for over 20 years. He served as the Avionics Department Manager and later oversaw the IT department, where he was well respected for his intelligence, leadership, sharp wit, and willingness to problem-solve.
Rick’s hobbies reflected both his technical skills and his love for the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, flying flight simulators, building computers, designing electronic circuit boards, and playing pool. He was always jamming to music, and for fun, he would work through physics and calculus problems — simply because he loved to learn. Above all, he cherished spending time with his friends and family.
Rick was an active member of the National Association for Amateur Radio and held an Extra Class license as a Ham Radio Operator (call sign WBØVZW). He was also a member of the Cowley County Amateur Radio Club. Through his radio, he made connections across the world, even reaching the International Space Station and McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
In 2007, Rick was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and since 2020, he has resided at the Kansas Veterans Home. His family is deeply grateful to the staff at the Veterans Home for the care and support they provided over the years. Rick had a brilliant mind, a gentle presence, and a deep love for animals, and became a well-loved addition to the VA by staff members and his fellow residents.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Paula, and his beloved cats T.J., Maverick, and Annie K.
He is survived by his wife Gloria Ulbrich; daughter Crystal Kochenower and husband, Brett; granddaughter Sylvia Kochenower; brothers, Ernie Ulbrich and Josh Ulbrich; sister Linda Ulbrich; nephew Mark Gordon and wife, Brandi; and his adopted brother and fellow veteran, Robert Gunter.
In honor of Rick’s lifelong love for animals, memorial contributions may be made to the Cowley County Humane Society, where he adopted several pets over the years that brought him great joy and comfort through all phases of life, and the Kansas Veterans Home Donlon Resident Trust in honor of the extended family he created during his time there. Contributions may be made through Miles Funeral Service.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday July 9 from 4-8 p.m. at Miles Funeral Service. The family will greet visitors from 4-6 that evening. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday July 10, at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Private burial will be held at Highland Cemetery at a later time.
