Howard E. Hicks of Federal Way died on Dec. 23, 2002. He was 69.

He was born Nov. 18, 1933 in Superior, Wis., and was a former resident of Seattle and Tacoma.

He retired from the Air Force after serving 20 years as a flight engineer/aircraft mechanic during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

He was a member of Disabled American Veterans, Gideons International and Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; daughters Cheri Jones and Cynthia Gallup, both of Stratford, Okla., and Patricia Cole of Shreveport, La., and a son, Howard Hicks of Spanaway; stepdaughters Lara LaRose, Kathleen Horne and Roberta Cameron, all of Federal Way; a brother, Lawrence Hicks, and a sister, Naomi Cooper, both of Grass Valley, Calif.; a sister, Darlene Manley of Snohomish; and 17 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ethel Hicks; brothers Arthur, Morrell, Aaron and Harland Hicks; and his first wife, Martha Jane Hicks.

A memorial service and celebration of his life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 4 at New Hope Community Church of the Nazarene, 9308 Meadow Road SW. in Lakewood. Inurnment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Bonney-Watson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to The American Red Cross or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.