William Eugene Hicks

William Eugene Hicks, known by his friends and family as Bill Hicks of Mesa, Arizona passed away with his family at his side at the age of 81 on Monday, October 31, 2022. Bill was born to Jerald and Gertrude Hicks in the city of Sublette in Lee County IL on September 14th 1941. Bill was the 4th of 5 children born into his family. In his early years Bill greatly enjoyed working on the family farm, cattle ranching and fishing with his younger brother Jim. He moved to Tempe Arizona with his family in the late 1950’s and graduated from Tempe High School in the class of 1959.

After high school bill joined the US Navy where he proudly served aboard the USS Intrepid as an avionics technician. After his time in the Navy Bill went to work for the Bell phone company which later became AT&T where he worked for over 27 years in various different roles before retiring at the age of 47. Bill spent 33 years in retirement where he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, going to the horse races and being a horse race handicapper for 55+ years and volunteering his time to help those close to him whenever needed.

Bill was preceded in death by his older sister Alice and is survived by his beloved children, Aaron and Linda, daughter in-law Simonette, granddaughters Lauren, Kayla and Brittany, grandsons Brandon and Brett, many great grandchildren and older sister’s Nancy and Maribel and younger brother Jim. He also leaves behind an incredible number of family and friends who loved and miss him dearly.

His family would like to remember him with the Irish Blessing:

Dad, may the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.