Wanda Lee Hickman

Our dear mother, Wanda Lee Hickman, born September 27, 1927, left this earth on July 21, 2023, to join her mother, Virgie C. Hobson, her father, Oscar V. Hobson, and her granddaughter, Jamye Rachelle Cox, in Heaven’s peaceful and healing light. She left our loving hands and hearts and went to theirs. She lived and created a beautiful life.

She created a legacy beginning with her children, including her son, Mark Philip Hickman, and wife Marshelia; her daughter Kimberly Sue Watson, and husband John, who in turn gave her grandchildren: Olivia Watson, and Sophia Watson.

Being blessed with a long life, Wanda outlived many of her friends, but there are a precious few remaining who meant so much to her. Her dear friend, Peggy Starkey, was her “partner in crime” over many years, enjoying dining out, movies, some travel, and many other fun activities. Robert and Sandra Cloud, her neighbors for many years, showered her with love, in words and actions, and helped her with anything she ever needed. She loved taking trips down memory lane with friends from her days of working at Cameron Iron Works, Margaret Ryder, and Linda Maday.

She graduated from Tech High School in Indiana in 1945. After working in accounting for Eli Lilly for many years, she moved to Houston, Texas in the early 50’s, where she lived in the same house for nearly 60 years. In Houston, she worked for Cameron Iron Works for 20 years until she retired in 1995. She soon realized that she was bored with retirement and missed working, so she proceeded to work another 10 years for Foley’s/Macy’s. After retiring from Macy’s, she went back to work as a temporary employee for her long-time former employer, Cameron Iron Works, using her expertise auditing expense reports. She finally retired and moved to the Holly Hall Christian Retirement Center in 2014, where she lived until going home to Jesus in Heaven.

This remarkable woman made the world a beautiful place for all of us and we will miss her kindness, softness, laughter, and the sweet way she loved us. At long last, her difficult days are over, and she is made whole again and is at peace. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Holly Hall and Star of Texas Hospice for their loving care of Wanda.

A memorial service celebrating her life will is planned for Saturday, August 26, at 10:30 am, in the Chapel at Holly Hall Christian Retirement Community, 2000 Holly Hall Street, Houston, TX 77054. Interment will be at Spring Valley Cemetery in Lawrence Township, Indiana.