William Hicks - Barbara Hicks

OBITUARIES

Barbara Lavinia Hicks

October 22, 1937 – June 4, 2023

It’s with great sadness and a loving shattered heart we share that our mother Barbara Lavinia Hicks passed away the morning of June 4th, 2023. Barbara was born in Seattle Washington where she lived and was brought up by her parents, Earl and Effie along with her soul sister siblings, Madeleine and Grace Roop.

Barbara went to schools in Seattle while living there and later worked for the Alaska Steamship Co. until she moved in 1956 to California with her best friend Lois. Barbara and Lois met Bill and Marley in Seattle before moving who were best friends in the Navy and later become their husbands while remaining life-long friends.

Following Barbara’s move to California, she got an apartment together with her best friend Lois then a job at Lockheed. Then in 1957, she married William/Bill Hicks who was soon discharged from the Navy. Barbara’s life was then enhanced throughout her marriage alongside Bill after giving birth to their 3 children, Jeffrey, Leann, (and Gregory who later unexpectedly passed away in 2019). She continued to work at Lockheed until Leann was born when she then became a full time mom bringing up their family in the San Fernando Valley.

Barbara enjoyed traveling with her husband Bill while he was working when they could and after he retired; often taking advantage of a time share in Tahiti they exchanged for other travel destinations throughout the years locally and out of state. She visited parts of Europe with Bill and made annual trips to Seattle and Lake Samish, Washington with the family driving from California and drove often with the family to Arizona for weekend getaways. Hawaii was a favorite destination she visited on several occasions with some of the family as well as a family trip to China guided by one her Pepperdine colleagues. She joined in many Navy reunions held in various states with Bill that he was involved with organizing while staying in touch with his Navy mates.

Once Barb’s children got older, she rejoined the work force taking a full-time job in Malibu at Pepperdine University in their Law Library as an accounting technician where she remained for approximately 30 years until her health changed which led to retirement. She was the library socialite and loved working there meeting the professors, colleagues and students while working and enjoying the view along with her lunch walks on the beautiful grounds. Many she encountered there became lifelong treasured friends.

She was a pillar of strength as a devout Christian which was demonstrated by her kind loving sweet soul throughout her family's life, and was welcoming to extend a warm hug to all she met to comfort them as though they were family with a big smile. Growing up she was the neighborhood mom that had the best-baked treats and home cooking that was frequented by our friends and neighbors especially at slumber and birthday parties. She had a talent for sewing and was involved as a room mother and with all of our family sporting events. We have been blessed to have had the time we did with Barbara as our Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, and as our best friend and confidant through life. Her kind caring empathy towards others and her warm infectious smile will be celebrated a lifetime by all that had the honor of meeting her and spending time with her.

Barbara and Bill became best friends and were soul mates for over 66 years until her passing. Though she is forever missed, we are filled with loving gratitude to have been blessed in life to be her family.

Barbara was survived by her husband William/Bill Hicks, her daughter Leann and son Jeffrey along with her grandchildren; Denielle, Jacquelyn, Christopher, Austin, and Michelle, her great grandchildren; Kira, Graham and William and her soul sisters; Grace Roop and Madeleine Smith, brothers in-law, Bob and Larry, sister in-law Diane, and many more loving relatives and friends.

 

OBITUARY

William Dale Hicks

August 17, 1932 – August 17, 2023

It’s with a loving broken heart we share that our father, William Dale Hicks passed away taking his last breathe in the late evening of his 91st Birthday on August 17th, 2023. Bill was born in Montebello, California where he lived and was brought up for a portion of his life by his parents, Harry and Ruth along with his sister Dianne and brother Bob.

Following the passing of his father, Harry, Bill moved to a more rural part of Northern California to live with his Uncle and Aunt for many years while going to school there. While living in other parts of California, Bill went to various schools, and was a Navy Veteran who later moved to the San Fernando Valley. 

In 1957 he married Barbara Roop who moved from Seattle, Washington to California to pursue work and a relationship with Bill. His life was then enhanced throughout his marriage alongside Barbara after she gave birth to their 3 children, Jeffrey, Leann, (and Gregory who later unexpectedly passed away in 2019). Barbara and Bill grew to become best friends and were soul mates for over 66 years until her recent passing on June 4th, 2023 which broke Bill’s heart.

Following his time in the Navy, Bill worked his career life as an Operating Engineer excavating land and constructing many of our roads, freeways and new housing developments, until his final retirement. During his contracting career, he was provided a unique opportunity and was assigned to spear up a work project in Saudi Arabia for over a year while his wife Barbara cared for their teenage children at their home. Though difficult to communicate with family via tape recordings and letters during that time, the job and experience allowed him to travel with Barbara to other countries several times throughout the year.

Bill had a genuine kind heart for those he met, many who became lifelong friends. He was a Navy veteran who felt gratitude in helping others in his family, friends, neighbors and colleagues at work throughout his life. Landscaping he had a love for during his working years in the contracting business as well as during retirement and he was able to fix most everything with pride. He was a hobbyist of many things who enjoyed his involvement with his Navy reunions, traveling with family and taking long road trips mapped out old school style. He spent numerous hours putting his special loving touches in photo albums he made for others, stamping his fruit he grew with his signature “Billkist” while packing boxes of fruit for loved ones and having them shipped or delivered himself. He went out of his way to help neighbors maintain their yards while they were on vacation and fixed most of the bikes in the neighborhood throughout the years. Bill worked hard to build a life of wonderful memories with his family and friends that we will forever cherish. 

Though he is sadly missed, Bill rests in peace now in heaven above next to his one lifelong love and best friend, Barbara. We are filled with loving gratitude to have been blessed in life to be his family.

Bill was survived by his daughter Leann and son Jeffrey along with his grandchildren; Denielle, Jacquelyn, Christopher, Austin, and Michelle, his great grandchildren; Kira, Graham and William, his sister Diane, sisters in-law; Grace and Madeleine, brothers in-law Bob and Larry, and many more loving relatives and friends.