Delorce "Dee" Luedeke

Delorce "Dee" Luedeke, born on April 4, 1941, in Pikeville, Kentucky, passed away on June 27, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. Dee was a remarkable woman known for her hard work and fierce spirit. She made her mark in the trucking industry as the co-owner of D&L Trucking, being the first female coal operator and owner with five coal trucks during the Coal Boom of the 1970s. Dee's career also included roles as a food and beverage director at Ramada Inn and as a bartender for over fifty years at C&B in Celina, Ohio, and Jade Kirin until its closing in 2011. Earlier in her life, she worked as a welder for Huffy Bikes.

Dee was loved and respected by many for her dry sense of humor and deep devotion to her family. She lived by the adage, "I did it my way," and was known for pushing through challenges, often encouraging others to do the same. To many, she was like a second mother, always offering advice that, while sometimes tough, was always needed. One long-time customer and friend described her as someone who "moved through life with a fierce force that people moved out of the way for, and she didn't have to say a word."

Dee was a passionate fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and had a great admiration for Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

She is survived by her daughters, Claudean (Frank) Dillon of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Stephanie Luedeke of Columbus, Ohio; her grandchildren, Dana (Matthew) Kays of Westerville, Ohio, and McKenzie Luedeke of Columbus, Ohio; her great-grandchildren, Daniele Crum and Madison Kays; her great-great-grandchildren, Marleigh Easley and Maisyn Easley; her sister, Estalene Bartley (Donnie Jack Phipps) of Pikeville, Kentucky; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family; and special family members, Ronald G. (Debbie) Bartley.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Claud Bartley and Jessie Mae Massie, her sister, Brenda Bartley, her brother, Paul Edward Whittaker, and her sister, Lea Jean Dillon. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

A celebration of her life for family and friends will be held later this fall.