Nina L. Delorme

Nina L. Delorme, 96, of Stillwater, Oklahoma passed away on October 6, 2023. Nina was born on January 5th, 1927 to William Ulrich and Aliene Hutcheson Ulrich in Manitou, Oklahoma. Nina graduated from Lawton High School in the top of her class in 1945.

From an early age, Nina’s fondest wish was of going to school and learning. She had a keen interest in architecture. She spent many hours during grade school recess drawing out house plans with a stick and marking windows and doors with rocks. Nina wanted to be an architect but even though she passed the college engineering entrance test with flying colors she was denied entrance due to her gender.

Nina worked as an executive secretary over the years and was even the first secretary for a local attorney Harvey Yost who has been a lifelong friend since. Nina went on to work for Ford Motor Company and retired after 33 years in 1991.

Not many people are fortunate to find true love but Nina found it twice! In 1945, Nina married Dr. David Delorme. David passed in 1961 due to cancer. In 1991, she married Dr. Calvin Poole who passed in 2018.

Nina was quite frequently referred to as “the little red-haired girl” due to her bright red hair and diminutive stature. When Cal first met her at his Aunt Grace’s office where Nina and his aunt both worked, he said he would marry that little red-haired girl one day. To his dismay his aunt said “who? Mrs. Delorme? It turned out he did marry her, just quite a bit later!

Nina had a brilliant mind and quickly mastered any skill that interested her. As a widow, Nina decided to remodel her basement. She learned carpentry skills and plumbing by asking questions at the hardware store and took a class on silversmithing (to put in the plumbing which gives you an idea of how plumbing has changed over the years as all joints were soldered with silver then). She had a master plumber come in to inspect her work and tie in the lines and he was amazed how there were no seams!

Over the years, Nina helped many family members with her ability in carpentry especially hanging sheetrock and her perfect tape and bedding! Nina put her skills to use when she and Cal remodeled their basement at their beloved lake property at The End of the Road in Missouri where they lived their married life until moving to Primrose Retirement Community in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2014.

Nina was an expert seamstress. She made a good deal of her clothing or altered purchased items to fit. People often marveled at how beautifully made her clothing was! She loved her 1945 Singer sewing machine and insisted it was better than any model made since.

Nina was a very private, humble person and would be quick to demur that there was anything special about her if you asked. Nina had a loving and Godly spirit that attracted people to her. If you made it into her circle of friends then you were her friend for life. You would receive a birthday, Christmas and most any other holiday card every year without fail and so would your spouse, children and grandchildren!

Nina loved her family and friends immensely. She will be sorely missed. Nina Delorme was predeceased by her parents, Bill and Aliene Ulrich, her sister, Mary Ulrich Brothers, her nephew, Michael Brothers and her husbands, Dr. David Delorme and Dr. Calvin Poole. She is survived by her great nieces, Michelle Brothers and Laura Brothers Green and great nephews Matthew Brothers and Ian Brothers and her niece Cathlynn Brothers.

Services will be held at Dighton Marler Funeral Home on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 9:00A.M. Private interment will follow.

5106 N Washington St, Stillwater, OK 74075. In lieu of flowers please donate to Nina’s favorite charity the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation at omrf.org or a charity of your choice.