NEWARK — William C. Hix Sr., 84, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at Licking Memorial Hospital with his loving family by his side.
Bill was the son of Curtis Hix and Mary (Herron) Hix Wood and was born July 12, 1925, in Mount Sterling, Ohio. He was in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving on the USS Pamanset - A085, an auxiliary oiler. He served in Africa, Italy, Japan and the Pacific. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, he worked in construction for many years in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania. He was a partner in the Hayth and Hix Construction Co. in Zanesville, superintendent for Arkay Homes in Newark. He was one of the founding members of the Licking County Building Industry Association (B.I.A.) and then retired from Rockwell International in Newark in 1988.
He attended the Hanover Presbyterian Church and was a member of the American Legion Post 0804, St. Louisville, and attended many of the USS Pamanset ship reunions held all over the U.S.
He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Mary Elizabeth Norman Bowman Hix, whom he married Aug. 15, 1981. He has six daughters, Beverly A. Jones, Hebron, Ohio, Carol M. (Les) Renne, Mount Gilead, Ohio, Billie L. (Tim) Journey, Newark, Ohio, Kathy (Tom) McLeish, Newark, Ohio, Patty (Jeff) Collins, Mount Gilead, Ohio, Pamela S. (Doug) Vickers, Newark, Ohio; and one son, William C. (Lisa) Hix Jr., Frazeysburg, Ohio. He also has two stepchildren, Jeffrey D. (Lisa) Bowman, Newark, Ohio, Jan E. (John) Lawrence, Grove City, Ohio, and wife, Mary’s, stepson, Randy (Lorri) Bowman, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Other survivors include brothers and sisters, Minnie Roberts, Milford Center, Ohio, Vernon (Peggy) Wood, Milford Center, Ohio, Wayne (Nina) Wood, Milford Center, Ohio, June (Larry) Hodge, Montgomery, Texas, Ed (Midge) Hix, Mount Sterling, Ohio, and Naples, Fla., Marilyn (Ed) Barok, Mount Sterling, Ohio. He was blessed with 25 grandchildren in his blended family, 17 great-grandchildren and one to be born in October, whom he loved very much. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
Mr. Hix was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mildred “Midge” Ross Hix, who died in September 1980; two sisters, Mary Jean Roberts and Joanne Moore; and three brothers, Willard Wood, Pete Hix and Jack Hix.
He and his wife loved attending family functions and traveling and spending winters in Florida. A highlight of his life was when he was honored as a World War II veteran and received his high school diploma on June 6, 2005, at Fairbanks High School, Milford Center, Ohio, with many family members and the crowd cheering him on. Bill loved life and loved his family very much.
The family will receive friends Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon, one hour prior to the service, at Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N. 21st St., Newark. The funeral will be held at Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home on Saturday at noon and conducted by Pastor Steve Wood, nephew to Mr. Hix, and the Rev. Charlsie Ramsey, pastor of Hanover Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at The Newark Memorial Gardens, Newark.
Friends, if they wish, may contribute to the Career Technology Education Center (C-Tec) Building Trades Department in memory of William C. Hix Sr. or to The Ohio State University Medical Center for the research work by Dr. Clay Marsh. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. To sign an online guest book, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com and click obituaries/view full details/add memorial guest book entry.
