William C. Wicker

Loving, positive and a teasing personality were just a few ways to describe William “Bill” Wicker. Bill always reminded others to have a positive outlook on things in life and he loved to joke around with others. He adored all of his grandchildren, and it was not uncommon to spot Bill sitting on the ground playing a game or having a tea party with one of them, even at 88 years old.

With 10's of thousands of people traveling the road and rail in America looking for work, 1933 was the worst year of the depression. The film King Kong premiered, and Shirley Temple signed a contract with Fox at the age of 5. The World’s Fair opened in May in Chicago, in June the first drive in theater opened, the first “spotting” of the Loch Ness Monster was reported around the world, and the popular board game Monopoly was invented.  The same year Nathaniel and Vertie (Armstrong) Wicker found out they would be having a child and on March 17, 1933 they welcomed William C. into their hearts and home in Ravenden, Arkansas.

He grew up near the state line of Arkansas and Missouri. At a young age he learned to ride horses, bulls and broke horses in for others to ride. After attending school in Arkansas, Bill joined another family who traveled around from state to state doing manual labor jobs, including logging out woods. In 1955, Bill followed them one more time when they moved to Pierceton, Indiana and would find a young lady who stole his heart. While working in the fields, he worked alongside Rozella Wince and they would fall in love with each other. On June 23, 1956, the two were married on her 18th birthday in North Webster. They moved to rural Columbia City and would remain living in their house for the rest of their lives.

The majority of Bill’s work career was at Whitley Products for 11 years and he retired from Dana Weatherhead in 1978. He also worked at the Post & Mail and Viking Inc. He was a member of the Columbia City Church of Christ.

Bill was a handy man and a jack of all trades. He was willing to lend a hand or fix anything that needed it. Aside from working on cars, he also was a carpenter who built the outbuildings on his property and added a living room onto their home. He found relaxation being outdoors and loved to fish, hunt and take trips to the Smokey Mountains. He and Rozella had many great memories taking their grandchildren on those trips and to the zoo. The two of them also enjoyed eating out at Golden Corral and in recent years at McDonalds.  Bill loved all of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and cherished the time spent with his youngest great-granddaughter, Maxxsyn Reign.

After a brief illness, Bill Wicker would rejoin his wife when he passed away Sunday evening, December 12, 2021 at Dupont Hospital. Survivors include his children, Helen (Steve Thompson) Gibson, William "Dale" (Tammy Daniels) Wicker and Vickie (Steven) Schwenn; brother, Herbert Wicker; nine grandchildren, Melinda, Sarah, Amber, Billy, Jarret, Nicole, Jeremy, Jordan, Courtnee; 13 great-grandchildren, Blake, Izaiah, Xavior, Haley, Lance, Landon, Hadley, Dylan, TJ, Kara, Ryker, Journey, Maxxsyn; and three great-great-grandsons, Lincoln, Remington and Oliver. Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Rozella Wicker on December 3, 2020; daughter, Shelia S. West; and brother, Robert Wicker.

Private services will be held but Bill's funeral can be viewed live on Facebook through DeMoney-Grimes Live at 2 p.m. Monday, December 20, 2021. He will be laid to rest next to his wife at Nolt Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given in Bill's memory to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honor of his daughter. Donations may be mailed to DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Bill's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.