Frank Hicks' Obituary
Frank Brown Hicks, Jr, passed away on February 10, 2018, in Huntersville, NC. Frank was born on January 18, 1930, in Avery County, NC, to Frank Brown Hicks, Sr, and Virginia Johnson Hicks. He was the eldest of six children.
Frank graduated from Cranberry High School, Avery County, in 1949 and from North Carolina State University with a degree in Civil & Construction Engineering in 1954. He served in the United States Army in the Corps of Engineers from 1955-57. He started Frank B. Hicks Associates in Charlotte in 1967, incorporated the business in 1969, and proudly ran the company for more than 35 years. The company designed hospitals, bridges, schools, housing developments, landfills, and sewage treatment plants across North and South Carolina, as well as additions to two existing buildings at his alma mater, NC State, in Raleigh. Frank also spent time as a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Health.
Frank and Peggy Jean Allen were married on July 5, 1963, in Raleigh. After 26 years of marriage and devoted care from Frank, Peggy passed away. Frank was a longtime member of Myers Park Methodist Church. Many will remember Frank for his kindness to others and generous and patient care of family, friends, and neighbors. He was an avid gardener who loved to share his rewards and also a lifelong believer in the power and importance of education and curiosity. Upon retirement he enjoyed his visits to local farmers markets and was proud of his daily workouts at the gym. His two children remember him as a loving and nurturing father, and he truly relished being a grandfather to his cherished granddaughters. His family is thankful for his loving care and for the beautiful memories they carry. He will be missed immensely.
Frank is predeceased by his wife Peggy Allen Hicks, son John Frazier Hicks, and brothers Buster Miles Hicks, Charles Samuel Hicks, Edward Guy Hicks, brother-in-law James M. Dingler, sister-in-law Margaret Elizabeth Burnet, nephew Bryan Cantrell and niece Ginny Edwards. He leaves behind daughter Camilla Hicks McCollum, son Frank Brown Hicks III and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Peach, granddaughters Margaret Allen McCollum, Katherine Ann McCollum, and Penelope Clara Hicks, his sisters and their husbands, Harris and Evelyn Hicks Cantrell and Jackie and Deloris Hicks Wilson, brother-in-law Robert J. Burnet, sister-in-law Marion Douglas Dingler, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. “Junior,” as he was called, will also be remembered by his extended family in Avery County.
The family would like to share their appreciation to all the wonderful friends, neighbors, and business colleagues that Frank was lucky to have in his life.
According to Frank’s wishes, services and internment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the NC State College Advising Corps, which places advisers in underserved, rural high schools in NC to assist students who may not have seen college as a possibility (301 W. Barbee Chapel Road, Suite 210, Chapel Hill, NC 27517; please note in your contribution that you would like your contribution to go to the NCSU program) or to Chestnut Dale Baptist Church, Frank’s childhood neighborhood church (c/o Rita Huffman, 468 Little Squirrel Creek Road, Newland, NC, 28657)
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.
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