John Samuel Wickham

Dr. John Samuel Wickham, 85, of Arlington, Texas, passed away at his home on October 25th, 2023. He had many parts on life’s stage including son, brother, student, husband, father, uncle, grandpa, friend, athlete, geologist, professor, advisor, author, colleague, and department chair. John’s legacy lives on in his published works, students, progeny, and the hearts of all fortunate to know him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

John was born on March 24th, 1938, in Pomona, California to Winthrop Woodward Wickham and Anna Lois Lackey Wickham. He was brother to sisters Joan and Susan. He grew up attending Temple Baptist Church and local schools including Chaffey High School in Ontario, California. He was an athlete on the track team excelling in the relay, an accomplished pianist, and an editor of his high school paper. Through the family’s camping and fishing trips and while working summers in his father’s surveying business, he developed a love of the natural world.

John obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from Pomona College in 1960. He moved to New York and served in the Coast Guard’s Marine Inspection Office from 1961 to 1964, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. On November 23, 1963, he married Karen Marie Roselund who he had met at Campus by the Sea on Santa Catalina Island. He left the Coast Guard to pursue a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University. His thesis work in geology afforded many opportunities to spend time in nature, studying the complex and diverse history of our earth.

After the birth of his daughter Kristel in 1965, and then receiving his doctorate in 1969, he embarked on a 53-year professional career, mostly in academia, but also in the corporate world. His first role was as Assistant Professor, School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma. The transition from ‘student’ to ‘teacher’ included a summer stop in Cañon City, Colorado where he helped lead the department’s field camp. His family soon grew with the birth of Marta, in 1970 and Jonathan, in 1973. Dr. Wickham taught classes, led field camps, advised graduate students, did research, and wrote and received grants. He advanced to Assistant Professor in 1974, Professor in 1979, and served as Department Director from 1980 to 1985.

In 1986 he accepted a position as Research Associate at Mobil Oil Corporation in Dallas, Texas. He was prolific in his work there, conducting research, authoring reports, and attending conferences and trips. In 1992 he returned to academia as Professor and Chair of the Geology Department at the University of Texas, Arlington. Again teaching courses, leading field camps and advising, he also led the effort to rename the department to Earth and Environmental Sciences and expanded degree program offerings. He served for twenty-five years and left an indelible mark on the institution. In 2017 he was named Professor Emeritus and continued teaching and advising until fully retiring in September 2022.

John's contributions and leadership in the field of structural geology led to awards, speaking at conferences, and serving on committees of professional organizations such as the Geological Society of America (where he was a 50-year member), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the Fort Worth and Dallas Geological Societies. Over his career Dr. Wickham was advisor to over forty graduate students. He applied for and was awarded many grants funding research, training, and internships. He was a published author of more than fifty works including peer-reviewed journal articles, guidebooks, and abstracts covering technical areas such as tectonics, transverse structures, fault displacement, and gradient folds among others. His consulting work, field studies and conferences took him to places across the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, Spain, and England.

John was a devoted father to his three children. He showed his love by being an ever-present provider, ensuring an excellent education from preschool through college, and prioritizing safety and security. He led by example. He was loyal and fair, and embodied strong values. The family was active in the University Lutheran Church in Norman, Oklahoma. His love of the outdoors led to camping and hiking trips to state and national parks. Often there were stops along the sides of roads to marvel at the outcroppings and fault lines in the rocks. One year, he took the family snow skiing though he’d never tried it before. Subsequently, it turned into an annual ski trip to destinations in New Mexico, Colorado, and California. In 1992, John and Karen divorced as their youngest was finishing high school. Even as the children attended college, moved away, and started families, he continued the ski trip tradition. Now his seven grandchildren are avid skiers and snowboarders. Although they live far away, he provided them with a listening ear, told stories, dispensed advice, and gave out hundred-dollar bills for birthdays and Christmases.

In 1994 John met Kate Muckleroy at a bridge group and they soon agreed to an exclusive relationship. They bought a home in Arlington and married in 1999. John was an avid reader and book collector. He enjoyed intellectual challenges such as bridge, chess, and other games. He was known for his shrewd use of money, a keen sense of humor, and a quiet pondering disposition. He described himself as a ‘realist’ when others tried to label him a pessimist. He authored a book (yet unpublished) about science, religion, and morality - topics that combined his personal and professional interests. He was physically active his whole life, participating in century bike rides and running for exercise. He continued skiing and leading geology field trips into his mid-seventies.

The final months of his life were marked by the last stage of cancer. Diagnosed in 2007, he underwent modern and effective treatments that allowed him to enjoy many more meaningful and productive years. He decided to enter hospice care in 2022. Kate took the role of caregiver and fulfilled his desire to stay in the comfort of his home. Living longer than anyone expected, John maintained his wit and humor to the end, endearing himself to his care team.

John is survived by his wife Kate Wickham; his daughter Kristel and her husband Lance Scudder; daughter Marta and her husband Victor Estevez; son Jonathan and his wife Lisa Wickham; sisters Joan Jones and Susan Purdy and their families; seven grandchildren - Alec, Ryan, Eme, Olivia, Annika, Wesley, and Walker; as well as many cousins, friends, students, and colleagues.

The family will hold a memorial service to honor and remember John’s life and contributions at Moore Funeral Home at 1219 N. Davis in Arlington, Texas 76012. Family, friends, colleagues and students are invited to share memories at: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/arlington-tx/john-wickham-11512961.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in memory of Dr. John Wickham to the University of Texas at Arlington Earth and Environmental Sciences Department and/or the UTA Scholarship Fund at: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1909/giving/19/form.aspx?sid=1909&gid=2&pgid=418&cid=1063&dids=723&appealcode=IMODSCH