Thomas A. Ricks Jr.

1938 - 2018

Thomas A. Ricks Jr.

Wimberley, TX - Thomas A. Ricks Jr. (Tom) was called home to be with the Lord on May 10, 2018 in Wimberley, TX. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on May 26 at 2 pm at the Crystal Springs First Baptist Church.

Tom was born December 8, 1938 to the late Thomas A. Ricks and Fannie McCall Ricks in Taylorsville, MS. He grew up in Union, MS and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1961 with a degree in Music Education. He later received his Master of Music Education from Mississippi State University. He was a band director in schools throughout Mississippi and Texas for 41 years, including Hernando, Magee, Newton, Pascagoula, and Crystal Springs, MS and Navarro, Lake Travis, and Wimberley, TX. He passed on his love for music to his students and stayed in touch with many of his former students until his death.

He loved to travel with his wife Pat. After retirement, he and Pat travelled throughout the United States and around the world. Tom met people everywhere he went and developed lifelong friendships with many. As much as he loved to travel, Tom was most at home in the Texas hill country where he and Pat lived for over 30 years.

Tom is survived by his wife, Patricia of Wimberley, TX; his daughters, Valerie Jones (Steve) of Brandon, MS, Veronica Ricks (Talli) of Portland, OR, Heather Wood (Mike) of Brentwood, TN; his sons, Thomas A. Ricks III (Cherie) of Fayetteville, AR and Tim Ricks (Julie) of Mt. Juliet, TN; grandchildren, Blaire Bledsoe (Clint), Matt Jones, Kristen Puckett (Thurman), Tyler Ricks, Thomas A. Ricks IV (Elise), Ben Wood, Emily Wood, Rayna Koppel, and Elia Koppel; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Kinsley, Swayze, and Steele Bledsoe; brother, Beverly Ricks (Mary) of Monroe, La; several beloved nephews; and mother of his children and lifelong friend, Dinah Ricks.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his brother Kenneth R. Ricks.

Memorials may be made to Wimberley United Methodist Church Barnabas Connection, P. O. Box 145, Wimberley, TX 78676 or to The Newton United Methodist Church, 600 Decatur St., Newton, MS 39345.