Raymond Paul Hickerson

Raymond Paul Hickerson, age 91, passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at Aultman Hospital after a short illness in North Canton, Ohio. Raymond was loved by family and friends.

He was born on May 11, 1922 to Nathan Veatch and Margaret Hickerson in Uniontown, Ohio, the oldest of three children. He graduated from Uniontown High School in Uniontown, Ohio in 1940. Ray served in both the National Guard and the U.S. Navy during World War II. He is a lifetime member of the VFW.

He met his beautiful bride, Mary Lou Kuhn, at Kent State University and graduated with a Masters in Education and Political Science. They were married in Madison, Ohio on July 5, 1947 and have been married for 66 years. In 1951, Ray began a long career in the teaching profession as a teacher, football coach, department head and an assistant principal in Mentor, Ohio for more than 25 years until his retirement in 1977. Ray loved to spend time with his family and friends. He was actively involved in golf, reading, and traveling to visit family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Mary Lou Hickerson; along with his brother, Nathan Veatch Hickerson (Esther) of Wadsworth, Ohio; sister, Opal Keeran of Greenville, S.C.; and three children, Teri (Bill) Walker of Hartville, Ohio, Thomas (Sally) Hickerson of San Diego, Calif., and Gary (Joyce Karp) Hickerson of Holmes Beach, Fla.; six grandchildren, Steven Zehner, Scott Zehner, Morgan Brausa, Megan Doust, Jessica Hickerson and Nathan Hickerson; three great-grandchildren, Dylan Doust, Catlin Brausa and Liam Brausa.

Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 3553 Northdale Street NW, UNIONTOWN, Ohio 44685 (one block NW of the square of 619 & Cleveland Ave.), with burial to follow at Uniontown Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mogadore V.F.W. Post 8487, 385 Randolph Rd., Mogadore, OH 44260.