Joseph Henry Hickman

Joseph Henry Hickman, of Alpharetta, GA passed away shortly before midnight on December 11, 2012 at Embracing Hospice in Cumming, GA from congestive heart failure. He was born on December 27, 1923 in North Charleston, SC and was the son of Victor Ward Hickman, Sr. and Audrey Ponder Hickman.

At a young age he moved with his family to Leary, GA, and later to Albany, where he graduated from Albany High School in 1940. After briefly attending Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, GA, he enlisted in the United States Navy, entering service in 1943 during World War II. Originally trained as a pilot, he later was assigned to the USS George A. Custer in 1945 where he served as a navigator in the Pacific until he left the Navy in early 1946. He then moved to Atlanta and worked for Eastern Airlines and then General Electric Credit Corp. for nearly 20 years. Following that, he was the credit manager for W. D. Alexander Co. and Cain and Bultman, retiring in 1988.

He was preceded in death in 1994 by his first wife of 46 years, Christine W. Hickman; his parents, two brothers, Alexander W. Hickman and Victor W. Hickman, Jr., and stepson Bill Nordahl.

Joe is survived by his second wife, Minnie Nordahl Hickman; son Joseph Victor Hickman and wife Lynda of Canton; son Russell Hickman and wife Judy of Kingsport, TN; daughter Christie Hickman Harwell and husband Allen of Suwanee; stepdaughter Linda Nordahl and husband Brad Menz of Marietta, and stepdaughter-in-law Evelyn Nordahl of Wachtersbach, Germany. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Amanda Hickman Tipton and husband Michael of Kingsport, TN; Ryan Hickman of Atlanta; Ashley Hickman Pickard and husband Jonathan of Atlanta; Rachel Harwell and Christopher Harwell of Suwanee; step-grandson Tobias Nordahl of Wachtersbach, Germany; sister Alida Hickman Coleman of West Palm Beach, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Ingram Funeral Home in Cumming on Saturday, December 15, beginning at 10:00 AM with a memorial service at noon. Graveside services will be held at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Douglasville at 3:00 PM.

In his memory, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692; or to the Alzheimer's Association, 41 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, GA 30346.



Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be made at www.ingramfuneralhome.com.