Earl Hickey

Earl Hickey, 77, of Akron Ohio, liked to say, “I’m married. A quick and painless death is not in my future.” But alas, Earl passed fairly quickly on Sunday, April 3, 2022, after a recent diagnosis of Lymphoma.

Earl was born on May 18, 1944, to William Hickey and Margaret Tatar Hickey in Cleveland, Ohio, where he ran with the Swoope brothers and was a model teenager (ahem). After graduating from high school, Earl joined the Navy, served his country, and then married a “rich girl from Lakewood” in 1968. According to Earl, he and Barbara “were married for 10 wonderful years.”

Earl is survived by Barbara (his wife of 54 wonderful years), his son, Michael Hickey (Christine), daughter, Melissa Lewis (Sage) and grandchildren, Alexandra and Indiana.

Earl loved cars and loved driving even more, which is part of why he loved his career as a traveling sales engineer for U.S. Steel, Cambridge Wire Cloth, and Intralox. He was a natural at sales -- he could brighten your day with an in-depth conversation and make you laugh with a corny one liner. Earl took meticulous care of his own vehicles, but was best known for restoring and adoring his 1968 VW Beetle convertible and showing her off at car shows. Earl loved to sail, waterski and wakeboard with his son Mike on Lake Chautauqua. He loved traveling with Barb, petting golden retrievers, sitting in the sun, grilling steaks, and learning about WWII. He was incredibly generous with his family. Earl will be missed.

Calling hours are Friday, April 8, 2022 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Billow Funeral Home, 85 N. Miller Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.