Larry Gene Wicks

Larry Gene Wicks March 9, 2015 L. Gene Wicks was born in Dexter, Missouri, May 24, 1938. He was the son of Bennie and Flossy (Wonder) Wicks and husband of Peggy J. (Wilson) Wicks. Gene is survived by his wife; two children, Gary Wicks of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Kathryn (Jeff) Davis of Wellington, Florida; a sister, Vera (William) Jones of Winnabow, North Carolina; three granddaughters, Symphony, Marlowe, and Brigid Davis; and his nieces, nephews, and cousins. Gene was the co-founder, owner and President of Boxes, Inc., in St. Louis, Missouri, established in 1977. He served proudly in the Missouri Army National Guard, retiring as a major after 21 years of service. For someone who could barely hear anything half the time, he played a mean guitar, banjo, ukelele, was self-taught on the piano and belted out a great bass in more than one church choir. He spent his adult life devoting his time and talents to various churches, including serving as a Deacon, Sunday School Director, Thrift Store volunteer and world-class hugger of everyone. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, Florida. Gene remembered every hole of golf he ever played, and would describe them in great detail to anyone who was willing to listen. Gene was a gentleman on the course, and found more lost balls in the woods than he ever bought in a pro shop. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska, hunting in South Dakota, and traveling the world with his wife, Peggy. After proposing on April Fool's Day in 1959, Gene and Peggy were happily married for 53 years. He was a loyal husband and world-class father. Mentor, leader, friend – Gene was always quick with a smile, ready with a hug and would literally give you the tie from around his neck if you dared compliment him on it. A memorial celebration will be held in the Bonita Springs, Florida, area in the near future. Please contact katdavisfl@gmail.com for more information, or visit this page for further details when they're available. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County. You can visit hpbcf.org/donation for more information. Or if you'd rather, perform a random act of kindness in Gene's memory. He would have liked that. A memorial service for Gene Wicks will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. The service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 9751 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL, in Price Chapel with a reception to follow in the parlor.