Richard A. Hicks, 59, of Perry Township, Armstrong County, died Saturday at his home.

Born April 2, 1945, in East Brady, he was the son of Mildred V. Silvis Beabout and the late Arthur R. Beabout.

He attended Karns City High School and the MTA Truck Driving School in Elizabethtown. He was a licensed amateur ham radio operator and an avid CB'er. He enjoyed computers, electronics and hunting, and was a dirt bike enthusiast. Most of all he loved spending time with his family and two dogs, Keshia and T.J.

He had worked at the former Rex-Hide in East Brady for 11 years, was head mechanic at Heilman & Davis American Motors in East Brady for five years, owned and operated Dick's Gulf Service Station in East Brady for three years and was long-haul truck driver for Refiners Transport in Butler and Savage Trucking in Kennerdell for years.

He was a member St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Bradys Bend.

Mr. Hicks served in the Army at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland.

Surviving are his wife, Sandra E. Hile Hicks, whom he married Dec. 31, 1966; a daughter, Mrs. Stephen (Kimberly) Stewart of Beaver Falls; his mother of East Brady; two brothers, Larry E. Hicks and his wife, Betty, of St. Petersburg, Clarion County, and William F. Hicks Jr. and his wife, Betty, of Parker; three sisters, Mrs. Russell (Carolyn) Crawford and Mrs. Kenneth (Janice) Crawford, both of Bradys Bend, and Mrs. Earl (Patricia) Everetts of Cowansville; a stepbrother, Jackie Beabout of Florida; a stepsister, Mrs. Robert (Eloise) Freeland of Largo, Fla.; two brothers-in-law, Timothy Hile and his wife, Belinda, of Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County, and Thomas Hile of East Brady; and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Donald (Barbara) Coddington of Gettysburg and Mrs. Donald (Bunny) Heginbotham of Bradys Bend. Also surviving are a granddaughter, Nichole McLean, and her fiancé, Orrin Heitger, of New Brighton; a great-granddaughter, Makayla Heitger of New Brighton; a special niece, Wendy Hue of Queenstown, Armstrong County; and many additional nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Vicki Anne Hicks; a son-in-law, James F. McLean; a niece; a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law.

HICKS - Friends of Richard A. Hicks, who died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday atCHARLES B. BUECHELE FUNERAL HOME, 105 Fourth St., East Brady. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Paul DeBacco, pastor of Crisswell Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Brady Bend Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to Crisswell Bible Baptist Church, 118 Crisswell Road, Karns City, PA 16041.