Reverend Billy R. ("Bill") Hicks (age 82) of Hinckley, Ohio, passed peacefully from this earthly life into the presence of the God whom he served faithfully for more than fifty years on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Grace Hospital, Parma, Ohio.

Bill was born to Bessie Jane and Virgil Hicks on January 16, 1943, in Jolo, West Virginia. He was raised in Jewell Valley, Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains' coal country.

"Pastor Hicks", as he was known to his congregation, was a pastor for over fifty years, most recently at Brunswick Hills Christian Assembly in Brunswick, Ohio, where he retired on July 1, 2025. In addition to his service as a pastor to those in his congregation, his ministry included missions work both locally and internationally.

Bill was married to the love of his life, Rosa Lea Hicks, for over fifty-eight years. As he told so many of the nurses who cared for him, if he had to go back, he would choose Rosa Lea every time. He was a dedicated father and grandfather who was known for his fondness for telling dad jokes that he thought were hilarious. In addition to his love for family and music, Bill passed along his mechanical abilities to Jonathan and Tammy, his sweet tooth to Theresa, his history of military service and skills in terrible joke telling to Spencer, and his compassion and love of milkshakes (especially strawberry) to Grace.

One of his greatest joys was to share his faith with others, leading by example as well as words. In addition, Bill enjoyed building and fixing almost anything. One of his passions was classic cars – in particular, "Old Blue", his beautiful, blue 1950 Ford. The family selected a casket the color of that car so they could send him off in the closest thing to "Old Blue" they could find – although it didn't have a V8 (sorry, Dad).

Bill's memory will forever be cherished by his wife, Rosa Lea Hicks; his children, Theresa (James) Kabath of Virginia, Tammy Hicks of Ohio, and Jonathan Hicks of Ohio; his grandchildren, Christian "Spencer" Reed of Texas and Laura-Rose "Grace" Reed of Virginia; his siblings, Joan Day of Virginia, Sherman Hicks of Ohio, and Brenda (Calvin) Ramsey of Virginia; as well as a host of extended family members, brothers and sisters in Christ, and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bessie Jane and Virgil Hicks; his brothers, Howard Hicks and Burl Hicks; and his sisters Mary Hicks, Ethel Cooper, and Wanda Sull.

Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Waite Funeral Home, 3300 Center Road, Brunswick, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 21, 2025, at Brunswick Hills Christian Assembly, 766 Substation Road, Brunswick Hills, Ohio. Interment will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Nicaraguan Children's Fund through Tex Sawyers' Ministries (https://www.texsawyersministries.org/copy-of-contact-us).

Bill's family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the staff at Grace Hospital, Parma, Ohio, and Heartland Hospice, Independence, Ohio, for the care and compassion they extended not only to Bill but also to his family during his final days.

Matthew 25:21 (KJV) – "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."