Gene G. Hickok
06/18/1922 – 05/31/2016

With his family at his side, Gene Gale Hickok, age 93, passed away on May 31, 2016 at his dearly loved beach home on Camano Island where he acted as water commissioner for the Port Susan Terrace Association for more than 40 years. Gene's passing followed a hospital stay with pneumonia and Parkinson's related complications.
Gene graduated from Bellingham High School and the University of Washington where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. His life work was in labor relations and human resources, most recently Hickok and Associates and previously with Westours Holland America and United Control Corporation (Sundstrand).
Gene served in the European Theater of war in WWII in 1944 & 1945, flying 105 missions in the P-38 "Lightning" over France, Belgium, Holland & Germany as part of the 430th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross & 9 Air Medals.
Gene and Dorothy (Dot) June Henderson celebrated 41 years of marriage before her death.
Gene was an active organizer of the 474th Fighter Group Association reunions, serving a term as president and joining his comrades at D-Day+40 festivities in 1984 at Normandy Beach and again as leader of the group at the D-Day+50 event where they also visited all of the military bases where the 474th FGA had been stationed.
Gene is survived by his wife of 26 years, Marilyn, son Steven Hickok (Linda) and daughter Jan Tanaka (Wayne); grandchildren Ryan Tanaka, Kathryn Hickok, Kelly Tanaka and Lauren Hickok Canfield (Jeff); and stepchildren Scott Hanson (Christina), Barbara Hanson Riley (John) and Gary Hanson (Carolyn).
There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, June 14, at 2:00 p.m. at Camano Lutheran Church, 850 Heichel Road, Camano Island. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Camano Lutheran Church; Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Drive, Suite A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273; the P-38 National Association, PO Box 6453, March ARB, CA 92518; or a charity of choice.
Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral home, Stanwood