Howard Hopkins Hicks

Howard Hopkins Hicks, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 6th, 2026 at the age of 94. He was born in Garrett, Indiana to parents Charles E. Hicks and Marie V. Hicks. His family moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1945 when he was 14 years old. While in Baltimore he attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and loved playing trumpet in the High School Band.

In 1950, after he graduated High School, he enrolled at the University of Maryland and majored in Electrical Engineering. While in college, the Navy was accepting college students into their flight training program. Howard met the qualifications so he signed up. He attended Navy Flight School at Pensacola, Florida. Part of his flight training included carrier landings out in the Gulf. He completed flight training and spent 2 years in the Navy. After leaving the Navy, he returned to College and earned his degree in Electrical Engineering.

After college one of his first jobs was working at the U.S. Naval Observatory in N.W. Washington D.C. At that time he was living at the 2620 Club in N.W. Washington where he met his future wife Joyce. Joyce was an Operator for the C&P Telephone Company. They were married in August 1957. After leaving the Naval Observatory, he accepted a position at NOL/NSWC in White Oak, Maryland where he worked until retirement.

In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, Howard had a Private Pilot’s License and loved flying. One of his first dates with his future wife Joyce was a flight across the Chesapeake Bay to a restaurant on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He was co-owner of a 1937Aeronca Airplane.

After retirement, Howard and Joyce loved traveling to the beach and staying in their condo at Ocean City, Md. Howard restored several antique British cars in his lifetime and always had a car in his garage that he was working on. Two of the cars were 1953 MG-TD frame-off restorations. Howard had a British cap that he wore when driving around in the old cars.

Howard was an avid walker and went for long walks every day which was a contributing factor to his longevity. He participated in several of the annual Chesapeake Bay Bridge walks. Howard was a proud member of the American Legion for many years and always kept his membership active.

In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years Joyce Hicks, his brother John Hicks of Currituck, N. C., and 2 Granddaughters, Nicole Hicks and Danielle Duckett.

He is survived by his 2 children, Son Bill Hicks and his Wife Susan Hicks, Daughter Cheryl Jordan, a Granddaughter Sarah Hicks, Brother Steve Hicks, 7 Great Grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Emancipation Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA on Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 12pm to 1pm. Funeral Service will be held at 1pm., Reverend

Tim Wilcox from Choice Baptist Church in Fredericksburg is officiating. Committal Service with be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 3702 Loren Lane, Fredericksburg, at 2pm.