Loren Michael “Lon” Hicks earned his new set of wings when he passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 1, 2012, at his summer home in Bigfork, Montana. He was born November 12, 1940, in Helena, Montana to James and Eleanor Hicks. He was a resident of Montgomery County, Texas from 1974 to 1986.
Lon was a pilot for Pan American World Airways and Delta Airlines for 33 years before retiring in 1999. He lived everyday to the fullest and always enjoyed the time he spent with his family and friends. He had a remarkable loving spirit and was known to put smiles on the faces of everyone he touched.
From the moment Lon saw his first airplane, there was never any doubt of his career path. He earned his private pilot’s license in his teens in Vancouver, WA. and continued to build his flight time while attending the University of Washington. He achieved his goal of becoming a professional pilot by being hired by Pan Am at the age of 25. By the age of 28, he was flying the Boeing 747 around the world. By the time he retired, Lon had logged nearly 30,000 hours of flight time.
Once retired, Lon split his time living in La Quinta, California and Bigfork, Montana. He served as a volunteer at the Palm Springs Air Museum where he loved to share his knowledge of aviation history. In addition to aviation, Lon’s other passion was golf where he enjoyed memberships at some of the finest golf courses around the country. Lon was also a proud member of the Bigfork, Montana men’s bible study group, the Dirt Bags.
Lon was preceded in death by his father, James Hicks.
Survivors include his wife, Victoria Bateman Hicks of La Quinta, CA.; his daughter, Heidi Foster and husband Eric of Montgomery, TX.; his son, Jim Hicks and wife Beth of Pflugerville, TX.; his grandchildren, Morgan Meador, Braden Meador, Bryce Foster, Jeffrey Hicks, and Maddie Hicks; his former wife, Karen Hicks of Pflugerville, TX.; his mother, Eleanor Hicks of Vancouver, WA.; his sister, Linda Angelo of Vancouver, WA.; his niece, Angie Friaf of Vancouver, WA.; and his nephew, Don Buss of Vancouver, WA.
A memorial service was held on Friday, July 6, 2012, in Bigfork, Montana. The family would like to thank the Bigfork Dirt Bags, the Pan Am guys, and the Bigfork Fire Department’s chaplains for making the memorial service a celebration of Lon’s life. Godspeed, Captain Hicks.