Marion W. Vickers

Marion William Vickers, Lt.Col., US Army retired, died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of December 19, 2015. He was 96 years old. He was a World War II veteran and a beloved family man. Born in Concord, Florida to Arthur and Margaret Vickers, he was one of seven children and the middle son of five boys. He attended the University of Florida and after the war earned his BBA at the University of Georgia He met his wife of 61 years, Emily Whitaker Vickers, on the steps of Macon's First Baptist Church, after he was sent to Camp Wheeler, now Robbins AFB, for his basic training in December 1941. They married in February 1943, months before he was sent to the European Theatre, where he served with the 36th Infantry Division, primarily in the Italian campaign. He returned to the US in late 1944. Welcoming another child at each new duty station, he continued to serve as an infantry officer until his retirement in December 1961. He and Emily then made their home in Macon where he was a salesman and purchasing agent for Burns Brick for 20 years before his second retirement. He and Emily were active members of Ingleside Baptist Church and the Exchange Club. They moved to Carlyle Place in 2002.

After Emily’s death in 2004, he continued as an active member of the community there, a member of MOWW (Military Order of World Wars) and Kiwanis, as well as committees for Carlyle activities, such as the Bum’s Breakfast. He visited his children regularly, spending a month in the summer in California with his son and Thanksgiving in New Jersey with his daughters. Vic never met a stranger and was a ubiquitous and beloved member of the Carlyle Place community.

Vic is survived by his brother, Millard Vickers, and his wife Jean, of Alachua, FL, and two sisters-in-law, Georgia Vickers, of Gainesville, FL, and Shirley Vickers, of Edgewater, FL. He is also survived by four children and two grandchildren: Marilyn Vickers (Lief Carter) of Athens, GA and Laura Vickers Chittick (Graham Goodkin) of NYC and Major Nathaniel Vickers Chittick (Annie Mohr Chittick) of Clarkesville, TN; Camille Vickers (Greg Beechler) of NYC; Emily Vickers (Tom Mason) of Hopewell, NJ; Nathan Vickers (Lois Anderson) of San Rafael, CA; four great-grandchildren and a bevy of step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his grandson, William Vickers Chittick.

After Vic met Won Jun, a teenager in South Korea in 1956, he and Emily sponsored Won for undergraduate and graduate study in pharmaceutical science. Won and his wife Jung eventually moved to Athens, GA and held positions at UGA. Their three children Sandy, Albert, and Jason all consider Vic their Granddaddy.

Vic donated his body to Mercer University Medical School. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Ingleside Baptist Church with full military honors. There will be a reception following. Upon return of his ashes at a later date, there will be a service of interment at Concord Cemetery in Concord, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ingleside Baptist Church or Wesleyan College.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.