George T.E. Hicks

1935 - 2018

George T.E. Hicks, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, Retired, 83, of Bedford and a former Fort Worth resident passed away November 25, 2018.

George was born on July 26, 1935 in DeRuyter, New York. He attended Blodgett Mills Elementary School, McGraw High School, and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University. After high school, George joined the United States Air Force. He soon became an officer, earning three aeronautical ratings: Command Pilot, Navigator, and Radar Bombardier. During his tour at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, he met and married Jo Ann Engelbrecht from Crawford, Texas. His Air Force career was extraordinary, including being a test pilot and flying O-2s as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) while assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron during the height of the Vietnam War. Over the years he flew many types of aircraft and was stationed at several bases across the country. He flew B-47s in Plattsburgh, New York, B-52s in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Bossier City, Louisiana, F-5s and F-100s in Phoenix, Arizona, F-102s in Dennison, Texas, B-58s in Peru, Indiana, and T-39s in Omaha, Nebraska. His last military assignment was at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. Among many responsibilities, he successfully coordinated and supervised all military operations during the opening of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1973. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of dedicated service. After his retirement, George spent many years owning and building his financial services business. Despite all of his military and business achievements, George always said his greatest accomplishment was having a close and loving relationship with his family.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Harry G. Hicks and Geraldine M. Hicks, and his brother Paul D. Hicks.
Survivors: Loving and caring wife of 61 years, Jo; daughters Melissa Hicks Hollmann (Scot) and Melinda Hicks Evans (Tim); grandchildren Bryan (Franzi), Brad, and Brooke Hollmann, Emily (Travis) Horn, Audrey, William, and Abigail Evans; great-grandchildren Wesley and Ella Horn; brothers Felix Hicks, Richard (Nancy) Hicks, Earl Hicks, and sister-in-law Jeanie Hicks; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 1st at First United Methodist Church of Grapevine in the Founders Chapel. Private Interment: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery with military honors presented by the United States Air Force. Officiating will be Reverend Armando Alvarado and Dr. Cindy Ryan.