William A. Bickham's Obituary
Funeral services for William A. Bill Bickham, of Longview, Texas are scheduled for 12:00 P.M. on Monday, April 24, 2006, at Rader Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Laney Johnson and Rev. Dale Perkins officiating. Mr. Bickham died on Friday, April 21, at Good Shepherd Medical Center after a lengthy illness.
Born on June 3, 1931, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the youngest son of James F., Sr., and Ollie Bickham, Bill attended schools in East Texas before moving with his family to West Texas. He was a member of the 1947 state championship Levelland football team, and graduated from Benevides High School in 1948. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952, proudly serving his country for two years. He was employed by Eastman Kodak for 36 years, retiring in 1990. Following his retirement, he served on the South High Beautification Project, and helped organize and served with the Citizens On Patrol program. He was a member of Mobberly Baptist Church.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years, JoAnn Ward Bickham; one daughter, Valerie Allen and husband Ron of Longview; two sons, Kent Bickham of Houston and Kyle Bickham of Longview; five grandchildren: Shane Allen, U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado; Whitney Allen of Denton; Deidra Allen of Gainesville; Alex and Madison Bickham of Longview; one brother, Al Bickham, of New Braunfels; one brother-in-law, Robert Ward and wife Mary Ann of Henderson; niece, Paula Bickham, and nephew, Bob Bickham, of New Braunfels, and a host of relatives and friends.
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