Ray was a U.S. Army veteran. He married the love of his life, Wilma Hicks in Floyd County, Kentucky on June 1, 1957; she died April 18, 2015. Ray stayed by Wilma’s side for her entire 18 years of declining health, and made sure all of her needs were met. He retired from General Tire in Wabash in January of 1997. Ray enjoyed hunting, fishing, working in his yard, vegetable gardening, and especially loved his family. He didn’t have daughter-in-laws or a son-in-law- they were his children. He showed no favorites, he loved and was very proud of all his kids. Ray would beam with pride, when each of his grandchildren and great grandchildren were born, and they all knew their Poppy loved them dearly. He often wondered how he was so lucky to have his children and grandchildren, being such good and loving people, and his children’s response is it was because of him.
He is survived by three children, Mark (Nicole) Hicks and Edgel Steven (Jennifer) Hicks, both of Roann, and Mary Beth (David) Harrell of Wabash; daughter-in-law, Marcia Hicks of Auburn, Indiana; 11 grandchildren, Jessica (Bradley) Crozier and Barry (Natalie) Hicks II, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Matthew (Leah Groeger) Hicks of Greenwood, Indiana, Joshua Hicks, Levi Hicks, and Jordan Hicks,all of Roann, Jonathan (Aimee) Harrell of Selma, Indiana, Jacob (Katie) Harrell of Greenwood, Mary Jo Harrell of Indianapolis, Indiana, Victoria Hicks and Olivia Hicks, both of Roann; nine great grandchildren, Victoria Crozier, Addison Crozier, Jackson Crozier, Christian Hicks, Madalyn Hicks, Jaxson Hicks, Esther Harrell, Heidi Harrell, and Hunter Hicks; two brothers, Thomas (Dawn) Hicks of Wabash, and Dan (Donna) Hicks of Huron, Ohio, and three sisters, Mandy (Jimmy) Brownbeck of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ruth (Dan) Goble of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Shirley (Glen) DeBoard of Wabash. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his son, Barry Hicks, three brothers, Carl Hicks, Clifford Hicks, and Glen Hicks, and his sister, Frankie Hicks.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Roann Chapel, 335 S. Chippewa Road, Roann, with Pastor Kurt Snyder officiating. Burial will be in Roann Community Cemetery. Friends may call 3-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Parkview Wabash Hospice.
The memorial guest book for Ray may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.