William Walter Wicker

William Walter “Bill” Wicker was born to Ruby Lee Andrews Wicker and Walter William Wicker on August 16, 1925 in Marietta, Oklahoma. He grew up in Ardmore, Randolph and Sulphur in southern Oklahoma, graduating from Sulphur High School in 1943. He enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific theater during WWII, participating in the invasion of the Philippines. At the University of Oklahoma, he was an active member and officer of Delta Chi. Graduating in 1950 with a degree in journalism, Bill worked on the Stillwater News-Press, the Norman Transcript and the Daily Oklahoman, later working for thirty years for Sheppard Advertising. He met Geneva Chandler in the Sunday Evening Club at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, where they were married in 1958. They and their children, Kent and Karen, were active family members for many years at St. Luke’s, where Bill served in many church offices, including Lay Leader, Education Chairman and Sunday School Superintendant. From 1980 onward, Bill and Geneva were members at St. Mark’s United Methodist in Bethany, where Bill also served in a variety of church offices, including Lay Leader, Head Usher and member of the Council on Ministries. Bill enjoyed history and, after retirement, served for many years as a tour guide at the Oklahoma Capitol building. In 2009, he moved with Geneva to Quail Ridge Assisted Living in Oklahoma City. Geneva died in January 2011, and Bill followed her on January 26, 2014. He is survived by son Kent Wicker, daughter-in-law Cheryl Arcuni, and grandchildren Jared and Alix Wicker of Durham, North Carolina; and by daughter Karen Wicker, son-in-law Jim Kessler and granddaughter Chandler Kessler of Oklahoma City.

Viewing will be at Memorial Park, Tuesday, 9am-8pm. Funeral services will be 3pm, Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at Memorial Park Historic Cemetery Chapel with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery