Obituary of Robert O"Dell Hickman

Robert O’Dell Hickman, 81, of West Peabody, died Thursday evening at the Mass General Hospital, Boston after a short illness. He was the devoted husband of Jessie Viola (Di Marzo) Hickman . He was born in Union County, Ohio on October 6, 1929, the son of the late Robert O. and Rebecca (Scarbury) Hickman and was raised there before entering the US Navy in 1946. He stayed in the US Navy for 10 years serving in both WW 11 and the Korean War before his discharge in 1956. While stationed in Boston, he met his wife and had shared 55 years of marriage. Upon his discharge, he was a boilermaker and became a member of the Local 537 Pipefitters Union in Allston. He had worked for many years with the Bay State Service Heating and Refrigeration Company before retiring 27 years ago. He enjoyed doing woodworking and gardening and taking care of his lawn. He also liked to play golf. Surviving him besides his wife are a son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth Warren and Brenda Hickman of Georgetown, two daughters and sons-in-law, Lois Ann and James Hayes of Danvers and Paula Marie and Steven Bourassa of Bradford, a brother and sister-in-law Glenn and Dorothy Hickman , a sister, Ida Penny and a sister-in-law, Marguerite Hickman all of Ohio, his seven grandchildren, Chad Hickman and his wife Jamie, Jeffrey and Melissa Hickman, Ryan and Dustin Hayes and Christopher and Sara Bourassa, two great grandchildren Alexander and Caylee Hickman and many nieces and nephews. A Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. His funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Adelaide’s Church, Lowell St., West Peabody at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02110 in his memory.