March 9, 2012

Vernon Clifford Hicks, 77

M r. Vernon Clifford Hicks, 77, of rural Bartlesville, Okla., retired from the U.S. Air Force, died at 10:59 p.m. on Saturday at his home in Bartlesville.

Mr. Hicks was born on February 20, 1935 at Granville NY, to Clifford and Dorothy M. (Hall) Hicks. Mr. Hicks grew up and received his education at Granville, and graduated from high school in Granville. He joined the U.S. Air Force at age 18, and served during the Vietnam War where he worked as a crew chief, and retired from the Air Force as a master sergeant, after 22½ years service.

He was married to the former Marion Gail Shaw on December 22, 1954, at Raceville. They had celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2004, and had been married over 56 years and would have had their 57^th later this year. They had made their home at various places while he was in the Air Force, until moving to the Bartlesville area following his retirement in 1976. He later worked for 12 years at the Bartlesville Wesleyan College, the present Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

His hobbies included fishing, woodworking and yard work, reading and spending time with his family and traveling to Branson. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene, and the Dewey Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Hicks is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Marion of their home, by one daughter; Gail Susan Hicks, of Ft. Worth, Texas, two sons, Keith and wife Tammie Hicks of Hampton, Virginia, and Scott Avery Hicks of San Antonio, Texas, three grandchildren, Amanda Tracey, of Okinawa Japan, Keith R. Hicks, of Hampton, Virginia, and Brittany Hicks of Shreveport, Louisiana, and one great grandchild, Emaleigh Mae Hicks.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by two sisters and one brother.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene in Bartlesville, with Dr. Russell Hosey and Pastor Dan Denison, pastors of the church officiating. Funeral services were under the direction by the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Wesleyan University in his memory in care of Kathy Lindquist 2201 S.E. Silver Lake Road Bartlesville, OK, 74006.