This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Hicks, Fastabend Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4659/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Calvin W. Hicks, 85, of Las Cruces died peacefully the morning of August 17, 2010 with two of his daughters by his side and warmly wrapped in the love of his entire family and friends. Cal is now home with our Lord and Cathy, his beloved wife of 59 years; his father, George Wilson Hicks; his mother, Lena J. Courshon Hicks; son-in-law, Carl Kitchens; cousin, Emma E. DeWitt, and numerous other family members who preceded him in death. Cal's passions, his love for our Lord, his love for family and his love for country, were the foundation of his life. Cal was born November 08, 1924 in the small farming community of Java, South Dakota. Although an only child, Cal loyally cherished the older brother role he adopted with his cousin Emma who also lived in Java. Cal left South Dakota in 1943 to answer his country's call to duty in the Untied States Army during World War II. He was wounded in combat maneuvers preceding the German's last major offensive in the Ardennes leading to the Battle of the Bulge. Following a period of rehabilitation in Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Cal entered Texas A&M, earned a Petroleum Engineering Degree and was commissioned as a 1st Lt. in the Army. Shortly after receiving his commission he deployed as a forward observer, behind enemy lines during the Korean War. He returned to marry Catherine Louise Fastabend of Petersburg, Virginia on December 29, 1951. Their partnership was foreve! r sealed by their shared sense of adventure found in travel, children and their abiding faith in God. Immediately following his tour of duty in Korea, he was recruited by a fledgling governmental organization, formed in 1947, to carry on the mission of the Office of Strategic Services to counter the growing threat of communist expansion that began to emerge in the wake of World War II. His service with the Central Intelligence Agency lasted for the duration of his professional career. He often mentioned that the highlight of his career was being able to be with his wife and children, bringing together all his passions while he served his country in Pakistan, in a desolate outpost near the Khyber Pass. The three youngest of their six children were born in a Rawalpindi mission hospital during his four years tour of duty there. He lived to see several of his grandchildren continue his legacy of military service and serve their country with honor, during their deployments in ne! ighboring Afghanistan and other regions of the world. Cal lived to know all of his children are successful and secure and all his grandchildren care deeply about others and the world around them. He lived to know we all cherish what he fought for, served and protected and those ideals are being passed on to his great grandchildren. Ultimately there are no words that can completely capture the expansiveness of Cal's life. The words that come closest are faith, family, and country. This is the legacy that makes his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren heirs to a treasure more valuable than all the world's riches. A legacy for which his family will be forever grateful for. Cal is survived by six children; four daughters, Theresa Louise Hicks, Mary Catherine Westermann and husband Granville, Lisa Anne Wooten and husband Daryl, Patricia Elaine Knight and husband Daric; two sons, Michael Calvin Hicks and wife Celeste, Daniel Christopher Hicks and wife Annette; nineteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Visitation for Mr. Hicks will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, August 23, 2010 in Baca's Chapel of Prayer, 300 E. Boutz Road where the Rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Family and friends will join together to celebrate the funeral mass at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 24, 2010 in St. Genevieve's Catholic Church, 100 S. Espina with Reverend Ricardo Bauza officiating. The rite of committal and interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 5140 W. Picacho with military honors accorded by a Fort Bliss Honor Guard and the Marine Corps League - El Perro Diablo Detachment. Serving as casket bearers will be his grandsons, Adam and Michael Westermann, Nathaniel Hicks, Matthew and Andrew Cardon and great grandson, Karl Calvin Cardon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Medical Mission Sisters, (8400 Pine Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111 www.medicalmissionsisters.org) or your local charity of choice. Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels. 527-2222 Your exclusive providers for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For condolences online logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News from August 20 to August 22, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.