Elden Eugene "Gene" Hicks

Elden "Gene" Eugene Hicks, age 88, of Vandalia, IL passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026 at his home in Vandalia, IL.

He was born January 5, 1938 in Ramsey, the son of M.W. "Shug" Hicks and Ruby C. (Spires) Hicks.

Gene as most people knew him, enlisted in the US Army from 1959 to 1960. After serving in the Army, he was employed by the Department of Corrections for 29 months in the Slaterville Prison in Joliet. He later transferred to Vandalia Correctional Center where he was promoted to Sargent, followed by another promotion to Lieutenant. Gene worked there for 13 and a half years. He served as a Patrolman and was later promoted to Chief of Police in Ramsey. He also was a special Deputy of the Fayette County Sheriffs Department, and he was the first in Fayette County to make the first drug bust. After his service to the state and city he became a partner in a Livestock Auction, and he served the community as an auctioneer. Following that time, he was in the trucking business. He leased to Dale Williams Trucking in Fillmore and Schnucks Markets in St. Louis, where he hauled produce all over the United States. Five million miles later he sold the trucks and began hauling race cars for 6 and a half years for the famous race car driver, Richard Petty.

Gene was a former member of Northside Christian Church. He was also a life long member of Temperance Masonic Lodge 16 Ainad Shriners where he served as president at Lake Club and was a past jester. At Temperance Lodge he served as secretary and as aide to the Potentate of Shrine Center in East St. Louis, IL. He also provided transportation for children to Shriners Hospital in St. Louis, MO, Orthopedic Care and Surgery, to the Shriner's Burn Center in Cincinnati, OH and to Chicago, IL for Cleft Palates.

Gene had a love for boxer dogs and over his lifetime he had 8 and loved every one of them the same.

Over the course of his life, he had 4 children, 3 of which are surviving, Elden Eugene "Gene" Hicks III, Gena (Gordon) Carter, and Lisa Hicks; 5 grandchildren, Adam, Andy, Stevie, Bailee, and Marti; and 2 great grandchildren, Benton and Shiloh. He was married to Sue (Rogier) Hicks and she died in 2012. He later married his surviving and loving wife, Lola (Rhodes) Hicks, and inherited 2 stepsons, Errick and Patrick, and his precious granddaughter, Roxy Bella, whom he loved so much. He is also survived by his sister, Judy (Rex) Harris.

He is preceded in death by his parents, M.W "Shug" and Ruby Hicks; his wife, Sue Hicks; his daughter, Crysti Hicks; his brother, Jack Hicks; and his sister, Joyce Forbes.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Miller Funeral Home in Vandalia, IL, officiated by Peewee Denton. A visitation will be held prior to the service, also at the funeral home, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Burial with military rites will follow the services at Fairlawn Cemetery in Vandalia, IL. Memorial donations can be made out to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Miller Funeral Home, Vandalia, IL is in charge of arrangements. Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.millerfh.net.