William T. Hicok

September 21, 1942 - November 25, 2012
William T. Hicok

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William Tyler (Bill) Hicok, age 70, died November 25, 2012 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on September 21, 1942 to Kenneth L. Hicok and Bethany Tyler Hicok, both of Michigan, who predeceased him.

He was a 1959 graduate of Troy High School, Troy, N.Y. and a 1963 graduate of Michigan State University. He served 28 years in the U.S. Regular Army including service in Vietnam, Ethiopia, Korea and Germany, retiring in 1991 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Bill and his wife Marilyn have lived in the Hampton Roads area since 1988. After his military retirement, he founded Poquoson Arts, creating watercolor and acrylic paintings of local scenes as well as commissioned works for several years. In 1999, he took a five month solo motorcycle tour around the U.S.; 16000 miles through 34 states, coast to coast and back. He completed a memoir of the ride which is unpublished. As a volunteer with WHRO from May of 2003 until his death Bill originated, produced and hosted a program of recorded classical guitar music called Silver Moonbeams. He also served as a board member of the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society.

He is survived by his beloved wife Marilyn, their five shared children and six grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Paul; sisters, Connie and Bethany and his former wife, Bonnie Storm. Bill thanks his family, extended family and friends for their immeasurable contributions to his life. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Bill was known for his love of animals. Some of his favorite hours were spent with his ìgranddogs.î Although his constant home companion was Sapphire the rescue cat, he enjoyed feeding the birds and watching wildlife in his yard. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Heritage Humane Society, 430 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185.


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  • November 28, 2012
    Curtis L. Stewart says:
    All of us who knew Bill when he was the Commanding Officer of Fort Story, Virginia, remember him with fondness and great respect. We share the sorrow of his passing and pray that God gives his family peace and comfort.

  • November 27, 2012
    Bert Schmidt says:
    From all of us at WHRO, our sympathies go out to the family. We will always hear Bill's voice in every Silver Moonbeam we see.

  • December 02, 2012
    Judith A. & Barry J. Mitchel says:
    It is with great sadness and surprise that we happened upon the obituary for Bill Hicok. As listeners in Portsmouth, we found Silver Moonbeams about five years ago, four years after we had moved to Hampton Roads from the Boston area of Massachusetts. Great as is the music on all Boston stations, there was nothing like Silver Moonbeams there. Bill's program educated us greatly inthe ways classical guitar music is prresented; we had never heard a guitar concerto with orchestra, for example, before he played a recording of one. Once I, Judith, called WHRO on a weekday with some question for Bill. Dwight Davis politely told me Bill was not in the studio, but gave me his cell-phone number. Imagine my surprise when Bill picked up the phone en route to Williamsburg! I made it quick, but he answered my question so thoroughly and courteously in that beautiful mellow voice that I was charmed. My husband and I wait all week for Silver Moonbeams, cancel things, and race to the radio at seven. And we never knew he was a volunteer broadcaster. There was an oustanding man from all we know. May you be comforted that you all knew and loved him; wish we had. We so hope WHRO will continue to broadcast previous programs. We will miss him much. Judith and Barry Mitchel Portsmouth

  • November 30, 2012
    Lynn Lambert Bryant says:
    Marilyn and family I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I still have the beautiful framed watercolor of my cat Fritti, which Bill painted for me in '92. Marilyn, my mom thought the world of you both, and I really appreciated that you came to her memorial service. Thoughts and prayers are with you...Lynn

  • November 30, 2012
    John and Linda Philbrick says:
    Marilyn- know that you, Bill, and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. We enjoyed knowing him in all of the wonderful ways we experienced him- at the TIC, going to concerts in Williamsburg or WHRO events, enjoying dinner together, and, of coures, listening to Silver Moonbeams. Though we are far from you now, we will miss him.