Cecil Neil Hickman

Retired rural mail carrier for Prosperity Post Office. Cecil Neil Hickman, 81, of Prosperity, died at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2007, in Standish Assisted Living, Washington. He was born August 12, 1925, in Dunn Station, a son of Cecil and Pearl Cooper Hickman. Mr. Hickman graduated from Morris Township High School in 1943. He worked at Sharp's furniture for 10 years and retired from the U.S. Postal Service, Prosperity Post Office, after 32 years as a rural mail carrier. Mr. Hickman was a member of Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian Church, Prosperity, where he taught Sunday school for 40 years, sang in the choir and served as an elder and trustee. He was a member of Rural Letter Carriers Association, Wa Cha Gree Forest 149 Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Valley of Pittsburgh Consistory, Syria Shrine, Washington-Greene County Caravan 2, Washington Royal Arch Chapter 150, Sunset Lodge 623 F&AM and American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175. During World War II, Mr. Hickman served in the U.S. Army with Co. I, 576th Infantry, 94th Division, from November 27, 1943, until his honorable discharge as a private first class October 10, 1945. Mr. Hickman saw action in Germany and France and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded November 30, 1944, in France and February 19, 1945, in Germany. For his valiant and brave service, Mr. Hickman was awarded the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, a Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze battle stars, Combat Infantry Badge and Expert Infantry Badge. His infantry unit was the first to receive the Expert Infantry Award in the United States. On January 26, 1949, he married Mary Margaret Maloy, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Steven B. (LuAnn) Hickman of Prosperity; two daughters, Becky (Arthur) DelPrato of Washington and Edith Ruth Roberts of Mechanicsville, N.Y.; a brother, Bertram Lee Hickman of Lore City, Ohio; two sisters, Esther Jean "Sally" Marshall of Greenville and Edith Rose Conklin of Prosperity; seven grandchildren, Clinton and Tiffany Hickman Nicistro, Kelly Gable, Shannon, Neil and Mary Roberts and Kathy Kranendonk; a stepgrandchild, Tara Shuba; 10 great-grandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at noon Wednesday, April 18, with Pastor Larry Deemer officiating. Sunset Lodge 623 F&AM will hold a memorial service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Prosperity Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175.