William H. Hicks

William H. Hicks, Jr., 78, New Philadelphia, died Tuesday afternoon, March 1, 2005, at Aultman Hospital in Canton surrounded by his family.Born October 21, 1926 in New Philadelphia, he was the son of the late William and Jenny (Corpman) Hicks, and a member of the New Philadelphia High School class of 1945.He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, and served his country as a BM3 in the Pacific Theater. He received an honorable discharge from active duty on August 19, 1946.He returned to New Philadelphia and, in January of the following year, married the former Marian Ellen Patterson and, with her, shared 57 years of marriage and raised a family of four daughters. William was devoted to his wife and daughters and also to the community he loved.Owner of the former Puritan Laundry and Dry Cleaning and Linen Rental Service, and later owner of the former Buckeye Machine and Supply, he was an active member of the community, serving on New Philadelphia City Council for four years, holding the position of city clerk for two years, and also serving eight years as City Safety Director.Bill was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia where he was a former church councilman, was a life member of the New Philadelphia Elks Lodge #510, and was a member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, the Tadmor Temple Shrine of Akron, the Atwood Yacht Club, where he served as Commodore in l994, the International Order of the Blue Gavel, and the Union Country Club.Earlier in his life, he enjoyed bowling on a team with his five brothers and, later, was an avid golfer, always eagerly anticipating his Saturday outings at Union Country Club with his Saturday morning golfing buddies.William is survived by his wife; his daughters, Susan (Don) Herriott of Boardman, Marcia (Lloyd) Stuart of Dover, and Lauren (Scott) Shelley of South Orange, NJ; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Daryl) Herriott Bell, Scott W. Herriott, Nola Shelley, Evan Shelley, Ethan W. Stuart; great-grandchild, Nathan W. Bell; sisters, Evelyn Moore, Grace (Tom) Kollar; brothers, Lester (Jean) Hicks, Ward (Betty) Hicks, Virgil (Wauneta) Hicks, Foster (Roberta) Hicks; sister-in-law, Anne Hicks; and brother-in-law, Jerry Ferrell.He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Deborah Ann Hicks; brother, Frank Hicks; sister, Mary Ferrell; and brother-in-law, Royce Moore.Visitation will be at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory in New Phialdelphia on Sunday, March- 6, 2005, between the hours of noon and 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Emmanuel Lutheran Church Council services will begin at 4:45 p.m.; Masonic services at 6:45 p.m.Services to honor William’s life will be conducted by Rev. Michael Walters at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia, Monday, March 7, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, friends and family are invited to a reception at the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home.Burial will be at East Avenue Cemetery in New Philadelphia where military rites will be conducted by the New Philadelphia VFW. Memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 202 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, O. 44663 or to the Tadmor Shrine, 3000 Krebs Drive, Akron, 44319.