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Virgil E. 'Sonny' Hicks Jr.

Virgil E. "Sonny" Hicks Jr., 79, of rural South Whitley, IN, and a native of Huntington, IN, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.

Mr. Hicks graduated from Washington Center High School. He was a livestock and grain farmer and served in the Indiana National Guard based in Huntington from 1955 until 1965. He was a member of the Columbia City Church of the Nazarene and a 50-year member of the Eel River Masonic Lodge. He had formerly served as Democrat Party chairman, Whitley County councilman and Washington Township volunteer firefighter.

He was born March 3, 1935, in Huntington to Virgil K. and Laura Elizabeth Shellenbarger Hicks. He married Janel R. Ott on Sept. 4, 1954, and she survives.

Additional survivors include three daughters, Lora (Ray) Mata, of Columbia City, and Sue Southall and Margaret (Todd) Fry, both of South Whitley; a son, Thomas (Cindy) Hicks, of Kendallville; a brother, Terry (Pam) Hicks, of South Whitley; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Calling is Friday, Aug.22, 2014, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Smith & sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. A service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at 2 p.m., with calling one hour prior to the service, at the Columbia City Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be at the South Whitley Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Columbia City Church of the Nazarene.