The Rev. Dr. Richard Fenton Wicker, Jr. passed away at 9am on Sunday, July 29, after an extended illness. Dr. Wicker was a naval aviator, chaplain, pastoral counselor, and author who lived an extraordinary life that spanned 83 years leaving and extended loving family.

Born in Benton County, in north Mississippi to Richard Fenton Wicker and Willie Thomas Dunn Wicker on March 27, 1929, he grew up on a farm near Winborn, Mississippi. The farm straddled a rich vein of farming land that helped them to survive the Depression. Dr. Wicker was the President of his class at Potts Camp High School for four years and co-valedictorian. He was also regional president of the Future Farmers of America and the 4-H club for several years.

Given a chance to go to college through the “Wings of Gold� program, Dr. Wicker joined the Navy at the age of seventeen, leaving the farm to become a Naval Aviator. Though he had not yet learned to drive an automobile, he learned to fly fighter and attack aircraft in Pensacola, Florida in 1948.

Dr. Wicker was a night attack pilot during the Korean War, flying thirty-nine sorties off several aircraft carriers. He once described his return landings as trying to land on a postage stamp in the dark in a rolling sea. In November and December of 1950 he flew cover support as the U.S. Marines fought their way out of the Chosin reservoir. He was a proud member of the Chosin Few Association until the end of his life. Though shot up on several occasions, Dr. Wicker was never shot down; he earned several citations for bravery.
Upon returning from the war, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi in 1952, majoring in English. While attending the University he met and later married Alice Louise Zeller, of Hazlehurst, Mississippi.

Dr. Wicker studied at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1955. Upon completion and ordination Dr. Wicker returned to the Navy, beginning what was to be a long career as a Navy Chaplain.

During his second career in the Navy, Dr. Wicker served in many countries (and in several oceans) around the world. He would serve three tours of duty assigned to the U.S. Marine Corp, including two stints with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa. In the early 1960’s he returned to Korea to serve as a Navy Chaplain in the country in which he had fought ten years before.

Dr. Wicker completed his studies at the McCormick Theological Seminary of the University of Chicago, obtaining his Doctorate of the Ministry in 1974. His thesis was on the subject of organizational ministry, explaining how to set up pastoral structures that would serve the needs of naval and other communities. In 1975 he was stationed at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, and in 1979 was assigned as Senior Chaplain at the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Dr. Wicker retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain in 1983, after serving as the Senior Chaplain for Commander, Surface Forces Atlantic. He then began a second career as a pastoral counselor, serving with Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Services.

Dr. Wicker also contributed to his community through his service at Community Methodist Church in Kempsville, in Virginia Beach serving where and when needed. In his later years one of his favorite contributions was the children’s sermon that he conducted with the younger participants seated around him at the front the sanctuary. Dr. Wicker also greatly enjoyed his fellowship with the Norfolk Suburban chapter of the Lions Club, serving as President from 1976 to 1977, and Zone Chairman from 1979 – 1980. With the latter, he worked to help the blind through a wide variety of fund-raising activities. He enjoyed the fellowship of his friends in the Lion’s Club until the end of his life.

Dr. Wicker was also an avid genealogist, authoring several books on the Wicker and Allen families. He was President of the Descendants of Ancients Planters and a member of Sons of the American Revolution, the Jamestown Society, and the Descendants of House of Burgesses.

Dr. Wicker is survived by his wife of 59 years, Louise Zeller Wicker. He is also survived by his brother William Walter Wicker of Waxahachie, Texas, his sons Richard (wife Kiki), Stephen (wife Sarah), and David, and his grandchildren Sofia, Alexander, Sebastian, Elena, and Julian. Dr. Wicker was predeceased by his youngest brother Ralph Thomas Wicker, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Carrol and Nella Wicker.

Richard Fenton Wicker was a truly gifted, brave, and loving man, and he will be greatly missed.

A memorial service for Dr. Wicker will be held at 2pm on Sunday, August 5, at Community United Methodist Church on Old Kempsville Road. The service will be followed by a reception in the social hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lions Club International Foundation or Community United Methodist Church. Please visit his Book of Memories at www.grahamfuneralhome.com where you may leave a note to the family.