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Jack E. Hickman Obituary - Hill Funeral Home

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Family will receive friends 4 to 7 P.M. Monday, August 19, 2019 at HILL FUNERAL HOME followed by Masonic Services at 7 P.M. Services will be held at 11 A.M. Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 S. Sunbury Rd., Westerville followed by interment at Blendon Central Cemetery.

 

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Obituary for Jack E. Hickman

Jack E. Hickman 1927-2019

Jack E. Hickman

03/17/1927 - 08/10/2019

Jack Edward Hickman, 92, of Westerville, Ohio, joined his family circle on Aug 10, 2019. Jack was born on March 17, 1927 in Waverly Ohio, the youngest of 9 children born to Earnest Zachariah & Margaret Artie (Terry) Hickman. He was called Dad, G-pa and Pa-Pa.

He became a 32nd Degree Mason in 1974. He loved his church family. He served as a Deacon and played Santa Claus for many years for the school children. He helped with monthly mailings and enjoyed morning breakfast with the men’s group.

He was a man that was able to get along with everyone, he was kind-hearted, humble, generous, giving, even-tempered and when he laughed…he laughed all over. Even during the times his body was failing, he remained the same humble, kind spirited man and could be somewhat ornery at times when given the opportunity. He was loved by all his family and friends. Throughout his life he was an avid reader, bowler, golfer, loved owning Cadillacs and RVing with his family & grandchildren.

Growing up, Jack’s family were farmers, some of the land his family farmed and owned is now where Bristol Village Retirement facility is located in Waverly, Ohio. He was proud of his roots and thoroughly enjoyed his yearly family reunions.

At the age of 16, he moved to Columbus and found a job with Curtis Wright working on planes called the Helldive bomber. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy and was assigned to the USS Kidd DD661 (Destroyer) as a Seaman First Class. The ship laid in dry dock in San Francisco for repairs due to being hit by Kamikaze plane during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He volunteered to be a cook, which turned out to be a rewarding job, due to having keys to all the food lockers (the cooks ate better than the Captain). When the restoration was completed, their orders were to join the rest of the fleet headed to the Philippines, in the process of joining the fleet, the war was declared over. They were then directed to dock in Hawaii for two weeks (to celebrate) before returning home. He was Honorably Discharged on July 12, 1946.

On April 10, 1948, he married Blanch Avonelle Hatfield in Russell, KY. They were married 58 years before her passing in 2006.

During the next few years after marriage he used the GI bill to go through Body and Fender School, which led him to work for Rush Motor.

In 1950, he made a decision that would prove to be the best career decision of his life, by joining the Sheet Metal Union Local 98 – known today as Local 24.

He worked for a few metal shops until 1969, at that time, Carl Lambert asked him to come and work for him at Lambert Sheet Metal. This would turn into the best professional/lifetime friendship that lasted over 50 years. He enjoyed his job and the people that worked with him. He retired in 1992 and you could usually find him on a golf course.

In 1965, he built a home on Walnut Street in Westerville. It was his dream home and a better life/education for his daughters. In 2000, he downsized to a ranch on Wallasey Drive in Westerville where he remained until the death of his wife, he then moved into his daughter home in Groveport.

Left to celebrate his memory are his daughters Rhonda (John Cunningham) and Carol Hickman, two grandchildren Jack Edward (Jeni) Lee and Anicia Ann (Ben) Meoak. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, especially traveling on vacations and watching them become adults. He was so proud of their accomplishments and the wonderful adults they become. He was also blessed with five great-grandchildren Jaden Anthony Lee (15), Jocie Rose Lee (10), Carter Thomas Meoak (12), Olivia Avonelle Meoak (10) and Laiklyn Ann Meoak (3), also, Brian , Jonathan, David, and Jennifer Ware who called him Grandpa.

Preceded in death by all his brothers and sisters and their spouses; Allan Clair Hickman (Marie), Evelyn Iola (Franklin) Finch, John David (Verda) Hickman, Martha Loretta (William) Schauseil, Alice Gertrude (Forest) Markham, Basil Earnest Hickman, Clarice Juanita (Elba) Cunningham, Maribelle Louise (James) Drennen,

A special thanks to the Cleveland Library for their many free books on tape, which helped my father deal through the loss of his eyesight since 2004. Thank you to Mercy Hospice of S. Carolina for keeping him comfortable over the last 3 weeks. They were truly “angels of mercy”. We will be forever grateful to caregivers Alison Green and Kimlee Rojas, for their smiles, laughter, joking and special care for my father in the last year of his life. He loved you both dearly, you became family.

Calling hours for family and friends is Monday, August 19, 2019, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Hills Funeral Home located at 220 S. State Street, Westerville, OH 43081. Masonic Service to be held at 7:00 pm Monday.

Please join us as we celebrate his life on Tuesday August 20,2019 at Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 South Sunbury Road, Westerville, Ohio 43081, with Reverend Dave Redding officiating. Internment is at Blendon Cemetery (corner of Dempsey Rd & Hempstead Rd) following the church service.

In lieu of flowers and in his honor please make donations to the Cleveland Library, Attn: Talking Book Services, 17121 Lake Shore Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44110 or Central College Presbyterian Women Association, 975 South Sunbury Road, Westerville, Ohio 43081

When asked how he would you sum up his life, he would say, “I had a good life and a good wife and the only regret I have is not getting to golf as much as I would like to”. We miss you and love you Dad, G-pa and Pa-pa. Go rest in the arms of our father…a job well done!