Dr. Gilbert W. Bickum passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on Sunday, December 13, 2020 at the Vitas Hospice House in Rockledge, FL. He had fought a long battle with dementia, but kept his love of music apparent.
Gil was born on April 24, 1938 in Newton, Massachusetts, the youngest of 3 children to Malcolm and Annabelle Bickum. After graduating from Newton High School, he began the NROTCU program at Tufts University where he attained his Bachelor of Engineering Degree and became a Naval Officer. He was then transferred to Pensacola, FL for flight training and joined the Navy Choir enabling him to perform at the White House. He then moved to San Diego, CA to work in the HS-4 helicopter unit responsible for anti-submarine warfare. While at Tufts, he met and courted the love of his life, Loris. They dated for 9 years, culminating their “whirlwind romance” with a wedding back in Pensacola in 1966. While there he became a flight instructor and enjoyed performing in Community Theater. Nine months later their daughter, Bonnie was born.
Shortly after Bonnie’s birth, they returned to San Diego, CA where he became a squadron’s operations officer and was then deployed to Vietnam. While there he earned several medals and citations for his bravery flying rescue helicopters into battle.
After he safely returned from Vietnam, the family was transferred to Key West, FL and then to Jacksonville, FL where they were fortunate to put down some roots. While stationed at NAS Jax, he was an Air Traffic Control Officer for over 2 years. His final station in the Navy was in Millington, TN as an Aviation Officer. After his retirement in 1980 as Lieutenant Commander, he moved his family back to Jacksonville where he obtained his MBA at the University of North Florida. He then earned his PHD in Finance at the University of Florida. To help balance out all his time spent in academia, he began honing his tennis skills.
In 1984, he began a new career as a Finance Professor at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. A few years later, he moved the family to Richmond, KY where he continued to teach Finance at Eastern Kentucky University. While there he and Loris enjoyed singing in their church choir and Dad improved his tennis game enough to begin acting as assistant tennis coach for the EKU Men’s tennis team. In the Spring of 1993, Gil and his daughter enjoyed his Spring Break hiking the Grand Canyon together. Many great memories were created!
After Gil’s retirement from EKU, he and Loris moved to their vacation condo in St. Augustine, FL where he resumed teaching finance at Flagler College. While there, he became the assistant coach for their Men’s tennis team.
Then, when Gil’s first grandson was born, he finally really retired and moved down to Rockledge, FL to be near family. Despite the distance, he enjoyed commuting to St. Augustine a few times a week to continue playing tennis with his friends. At this time, he joined the choir at Rockledge Presbyterian Church and volunteered as a performer at Cocoa Village Playhouse. One of his favorite theatrical memories was when he performed in 1776 both at CVP and the King’s Center in Melbourne. In 2003, he amazed friends and family by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with two of his beloved nieces. From the depths of the Grand Canyon to one of the highest mountains in the world, Gil had a passion for life, yet always had a strong moral compass. He demonstrated steadfast commitment to his loved ones and never hesitated to jump into action if anyone needed help.
He is predeceased by his parents, Malcolm and Melissa Annabelle (Grant) Bickum, his brother Alan Bickum, and his sister Beverly (Bickum) Decker. He is survived by his wife, Loris (Phillips) Bickum, his daughter Bonnie (Bickum) McClelland (John), grandsons Kyle and Ryan McClelland, brother-in-laws Tom Phillips (Jan) and Tom Decker, nieces Julie Phillips, Judy Johnson (Jim), Stephanie Johnson (Jeff), Elizabeth Decker (Valerie), and nephews Keith Phillips (Kathy), Tommy Phillips and Eric Phillips.
Graveside service to be held at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL on January 16, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, please submit donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in the name of Dr. Gilbert W. Bickum.
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