Victor Graham Vickers

Victor, born November 8, 1925, was the son of Lucius Graham Vickers and Bessie Parrish Vickers Lee. He was born in Lowe’s Grove, NC, where he attended grade school and high school.

After graduation from high school, “Vic,” as his friends called him, joined the armed services in 1944. He was a decorated veteran of two wars, as a member of the US Navy in World War II and the Korean War. Vic was proud to be part of the operation that made it possible for the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender at the end of WWII. He was serving on a mine sweeper that cleared the Tokyo Bay so that McArthur’s ship could go in for the Armistice signing. Vic’s ship was so close to the proceedings that he recalled they listened to the ceremony through the loud speakers on the ship.

Vic started his career at the NC State Highway Department as a programmer in the early days of computers in the 1950’s. During the 60’s he was in the State Auditor’s Department for the State of North Carolina. From there he continued his career as the Systems Analyst for North Carolina State University until he retired in 1987. Upon retirement, he completed his distinguished 32 years of service as an NC State government employee, making him an honorable member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Vic and his wife Thelma enjoyed the companionship and social interaction of numerous friends that made up their extensive social network. They were members of the Sunday Fellows Class at the St James United Methodist Church, where he and Thelma attended for more than 40 years. They enjoyed ballroom dancing, attending theatre, playing bridge and hanging out with family. Even though Vic only started playing golf when he retired in 1987, he was able to hit a hole-in-one 5 times over the years and did the remarkable feat of “scoring his age” 6 times, with the last time when he was 90 years old. For more than 40 years, Vic also enjoyed his weekly poker games with longtime friends.

In addition to his parents, Vic was preceded in death by his loving wife, Thelma Steed Vickers, who passed away on February 18, 2019, and his grandson Michael Alan Haas on November 13, 2021. He is survived by his oldest daughter Sandra Vickers Haas and her husband Paul Anthony Kersens, his son Mark Graham Vickers, and daughter Ann Thomas Hahn and her husband Dean Alan Hahn. He is also survived by his grandchildren Timothy David Haas and his wife Jennifer Barfield Haas; Jamie Thomas Haas and his wife Charity Haugk Haas; Nicholas Dean Hahn and his wife Natalia Nosal Hahn; and Maya Elizabeth Hahn. Vic was also a great grandfather to Abbey Haas, Caleb Haas, Katelyn Haas, Natalie Haas and Zachary Haas.

Friends and family are invited to attend a graveside funeral service at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 5th at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC. Dr. Alan Hahn, CEO of Iron Academy, will officiate the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, friends and relatives can honor his life by making a donation to a charity of their choice.