Edgar B. Hickman, Jr. of Dover passed peacefully on Oct. 14, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born to Ethel Marie (Kitchens) Spear and Edgar B. Hickman, Sr. on April 8, 1936, in the town of Roxanna.
He started working at the age of 13 delivering newspapers in the town of Roxanna. Mr. Hickman helped his mother support the family with his paper route. His brother Frederick “Freddy” was his best friend. Edgar spent a lot of time in Bishopville growing up and married and moved to New Jersey in the early ‘50s. He worked in New Jersey at the Vineland Laboratory. He had three daughters there: Sandy, Linda Ellen and Joan. He moved back to Delaware and on June 24, 1967, Edgar married the love of his life, Virginia Rae (Hastings) Hickman. Together they had two daughters, Kimberly and Kelly. Edgar worked as a receiving manager for both Woolco’s and after they went out of business, Rose’s in Dover. He retired from Goodwill Inc, where he drove for several years.
Edgar and Virginia loved to camp, garden, fish and do yard work together. They spent many summers at Gulls Way Campground in Dagsboro where they met many friends while playing cornhole and riding on the golf cart. Suddenly in June of 2016, Virginia preceded him in death after 49 years of marriage. Edgar was never the same after her passing. They were a perfect working team and he longed to be with her again.
Edgar’s favorite things to watch other than the news included Billy Graham, Dr. Charles Stanley and the Southern Gospel group, the Gaither’s. Edgar was never without music playing and could always be found with his dog, Taz. His favorite season was Christmas. He loved to give gifts. He and Virginia often would help other people who were looking for that certain thing and couldn’t find it. Edgar also very quietly would give to people in need. He believed it was important to help others. Since the early ‘80s Edgar has been a member of the Harrington Moose Lodge.
Edgar was preceded in death by his parents Ethel Marie (Hickman) Spear and Edgar B. Hickman, Sr., his brother, Frederick P. Hickman and his loving wife, Virginia Rae (Hastings) Hickman.
He is survived by his daughters, Kimberly Presley and her husband Eric of Hebron; Kelly Gondeck and her husband Dave of Dover; Sandy Carney (the late Jim) of Glen Mills, Pa.; Linda Ellen Hickman-Laws and her husband Allan of Virginia Beach, Va; and Joan Richmond and her husband Fred of Vineland; grandchildren, Hannah Bethel (Elijah), Adam Insley, Hunter Gondeck, Christine SanFelice, Jassen Ruberti, Courtney Ruberti, Kaitlyn Burton, Matthew Richmond (Karen) and Megan Ziller (Rudy); his dog, Taz, a rescue from the SPCA who has been his riding companion and buddy since 2008; and extended family and friends.
The funeral service will take place on Friday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at Pippin Funeral Home in Wyoming where friends may call an hour prior to service. Interment to follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Camden.
Memorial donations may be made to the Delaware SPCA in Edgar’s memory. Share a memory at www.pippinfuneralhome.com.