HICKS, WILLIAM W. (BILLY) passed away July 21, 2012 after a short illness. He was 75. Bill was born Nov. 5, 1936 at Oceanside, Calif. He was retired from the U.S. NAVY as well as from the California DMV. He was preceeded in death by his wife, Sondra and his mother, Lorine DeVaney, who passed away last Nov. 7. Bill is survived by his sister and husband. The graveside service was held on Monday, July 30. Bill's Grandfather, Walter Williams, had served in the Army in World War I, his father, Grover Cleveland Hicks and uncles in World War II, and many of his cousins served in the military as well.
Bill loved to travel, and with his wife, Sondra, they traveled most of the U.S. reserching genealogy as they went. Bill had an extensive genealogy collection back to the 1600's.
Although Bill was born in California, he moved to Kansas when his mother remarried and Bill grew up in a small town, Conway Springs, Kansas. He graduated from high school there and worked at a bank there for a year and then joined the Navy. After his regular enlistment Bill was in the reserves for the remainder of his time in the Navy also working at the DMV.
Bill gained many friends working at the DMV and he will be missed by family and friends.
