Edith Maude Hicks, 90, a fifty-year resident of Lompoc, died December 26, 2013, after a courageous 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Edith Hicks was born on September 26, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Idella V. and Willie H. Ike. She was educated in Philadelphia public schools and attended Bennett College, a historically African American women’s college in Greensboro, North Carolina. While a sophomore at Bennett College, Edith met Arthur Norris Hicks who was in Greensboro from Tuskegee Institute as part of his civilian pilot training during World War II. She received a B.A. in Sociology from Bennett College in 1946 and after she graduated, she and Arthur were married sixty-seven years ago on August 3, 1946. During their marriage, Edith and Arthur lived in Dayton, Ohio, Lockbourne A.F.B., Ohio, Sewart A.F.B., Tennessee, Elmendorf A.F.B., Alaska, Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, Sheppard A.F.B., Texas, Vandenberg A.F.B. and Lompoc. Edith and Arthur loved traveling within the United States and abroad including Mexico, England, France, Germany, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
She is survived by her loving husband, Arthur Norris Hicks, and their three children, Arthur Norris Hicks II, (Debra Krutul-Hicks), Joyce Hicks (Eric Behrens), and Tony Hicks (Ann Wendell). She also leaves her seven grandchildren, Jeremy Hicks, Kevin Hicks, Jennette Hicks (Anthony Alamanza), Philip Behrens (Amanda), Michelle Behrens, Isabelle Burke, and Jack Burke. Edith Hicks also leaves her cherished sister Alice Devlin, 91, of Washington D.C. She also leaves beloved nieces and nephews, other relatives, and countless special friends.
She was a congregant of Valley of the Flowers United Church of Christ, a member of Beta Pi Sigma Sorority Inc., Lamda Chapter, Delta Kappa Gama Society International, Iota Nu Chapter, and the American Association of University Women, Lompoc-Vandenberg Chapter. She was a past Basileus of Beta Pi Sigma Sorority, Inc., Lamda Chapter and served as the editor of both the chapter and national newsletter, The Olive Grove, for several years. She served three terms as president of the Lompoc-Vandenberg Chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and was the program chair for the Iota Nu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gama. The Santa Barbara County Commission on Women recognized her as Woman of the Year in 2004. The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party Central Committee recognized Edith and Arthur as Democrats of the Year and in 2012, the Lompoc Valley Democratic Club awarded Edith Hicks a life time achievement award for her decades of service. In 2011, the Xi Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. recognized Edith Hicks with a Vision Award for her dedicated years of service as an educator. As the wife of a Tuskegee Airman, Edith was active with Arthur in the Tuskegee Airman, Inc. Scholarship program for 15 years, a program that has awarded in excess of $1,500,000 in scholarships over the past three decades.
She taught primary school in the Lompoc Unified School District for 21 years as both a kindergarten and first grade teacher. She was passionate about her students receiving the proper educational foundation to ensure their success as they progressed through the school system.
She was a talented pianist and enjoyed sewing, gardening and crafts of alltypes. All three of her children inherited her joy of cooking and baking. She always kept her family in the forefront. She was known for her elegance, kind smile, twinkling eyes and compassion for humankind. She believed in order to enrich one’s life, one should be aware of the needs of those with whom one comes in contact and one should think twice before speaking out.
Her memorial service will be held on January 18, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Vandenberg Air Force Base Chapel One, Building 16200, 587 Summersill Road, Vandenberg A.F.B., CA., 93437. To ensure entry to Vandenberg A.F.B., please contact Joyce Hicks at edithhicksmemorial@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. Unless you are escorted by active or retired military personnel, you and your passengers must provide Ms. Hicks with your government issued identification number, name and date of birth no later than January 15, 2014 by 10:00 a.m. On the day of the memorial, you must bring your identification with you to the base to gain entry. By phone you may contact the Base Chapel at 805.606.5773 or Lela Rousseau at the Neptune Society at 805.967.2805.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Edith Hicks’ honor to Beta Pi Sigma Sorority Inc., P.O. Box 1083, Lompoc, CA, 93436, Delta Kappa Gama Society International, Iota Nu Chapter, the American Association of University Women, Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch, P.O. Box 2523, Lompoc, CA 93438, or Tuskegee Airmen, Scholarship Foundation, Post Office Box 83395, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
