Norman W. Hicks
...WWII Army veteran at Iwa Jima; 87
TEWKSBURY - Norman W. Hicks, age 87, a Veteran of the WWII South Pacific campaign, died unexpectedly Saturday night, Feb. 20, at Saints Medical Center in Lowell. He was the beloved husband of Muriel E. (Bowker) Hicks, with whom he had celebrated a 63rd wedding anniversary this past September 28th.
He was born in Lynn, February 19, 1923, a son of the late Warren and Ruth (Smith) Hicks, and raised in Saugus.
He enlisted into the U.S. Army in March 1943, and was trained to operate 40mm cannons, used as an anti-aircraft weapon. He served in the South Pacific, where he became a Battery Captain, along the advancing front lines in the war against Japan. His engagements included Iwa Jima.
Upon honorable discharge from the Army, he married his beloved Muriel, and moved to Tewksbury in 1956 to raise his young family.
He was employed in several capacities during his career, and retired from the Shipping Department of Koch Industries in Wilmington, manufacturers of stainless steel industrial tanks.
He was a lifelong hobby modeler, and created incredible models of anything and everything from WWII equipment to airplanes, ships, cars, and motorcycles.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three children, Dennis N. Hicks of Fairhaven, VT, Marcia Murray and her husband Douglas of Lowell, and Jeff Hicks of Tewksbury; six grandchildren, David Murray of Nashua, NH, Brian Murray of Tyngsboro, Kathryn Murray of Lowell, Dennis N. Hicks Jr., of Concord, NH, Nichole Dexter of Fairhaven, VT, Chris Malfy of Pembroke, NH; seven great grandchildren, Zachary, Emilie, Kaelyn, Harry, Nicholas, Alana, and Cody; a brother Lee Hicks of FL; two sisters, Janice Bain of ME, and Wendy Ciarlotta of Marblehead; and many nieces and nephews.
At his request funeral services are private. Memorial contribution to the American Heart Assn., 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701-4688 will be appreciated.