Obituary of David Boon Wickham

Funeral services for David Boon Wickham, 77, of Arp will be at 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Wright City with Reverend Rohn Boone officiating. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery near Arp. Arrangements are under direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton.

David Boon Wickham was born July 12, 1940 in Delaware, Ohio to Kitridge and Dorothy Wickham. Dave passed September 17, 2017 at his home in Arp, Texas after a 10 year battle with cancer. Dave is preceded in death by his parents Kit and Dorothy Wickham and son Paul Pressley, Jr.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years Joyce Wickham of Arp; three children, daughter and son-in-law Cynthia and Mike Breckel of Whitehouse, daughter and son-in-law Terri and James Mathis of Cedar Park, and daughter Amanda Wickham-Pressley of Austin; eight grandchildren, Andria Pressley, Paul Pressley III of Troup, Michael Musick of Austin, Misty Hamilton and husband Greg of Palestine, Rick Sumner of Cedar Park, Holden Wenger of Austin, Chris Breckel and wife Holley of Chapel Hill and Hollye Cook of Whitehouse; nine great grandchildren, Alexis Shelton, Jamaal Cole, Braxton Barton of Troup, Haven Spencer and Morgan Spencer of Palestine, Tatum Hamilton of Gatesville, Conley Breckel of Chapel Hill, Carson Cook and Cooper Breckel of Whitehouse; two brothers, Tom Wickham and his wife Pam of Sunbury, Ohio and Jonathan Wickham of Delaware, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dave grew up farming which was his first passion.  His love for farming brought him to Texas in 1974 to raise Murray Grey Cattle.  While raising cattle, he also worked at Hefner Plastics in Troup.  While working at Hefner Plastic, he met Winona Calley. Little did he know at that time, Winona would become his mother-in-law.  Winona would ride to and from work  with her daughter Joyce.  This led to Joyce and Dave meeting. On July 3, 1976, Dave married the love of his life, Joyce Pressley.

When Dave married Joyce, he became an instant father of four children.  He was also adopted and welcomed into the Pressley family.  Ralph Pressley told him just because Paul, Sr. was no longer with us, Joyce is still my daughter-in-law and he was now his son-in-law.  Before his passing, his eyes filled with tears telling this story, an example of how much the love and acceptance meant to his heart.

Dave had various careers in his working years.  First passion was farming and his second being a truck driver. Dave loved trucking because this allowed him to travel and see the countryside. The different scenery, different historical sights, museums, trains and air shows. If you travelled with him, you were going to stop and read each historical marker on the trip.  His love of history in action.

Dave’s hobby was a deep love and passion for airplanes. His fascination for planes started at the early age of three.  His father worked at a plant building planes and would bring home pictures of World War II aircraft.  Dave would hang them on his bedroom walls.  His travels allowed him to attend many airshows and take several plane rides.  He never had a lack of words for discussing planes or trucks.  He loved World War II planes. In his last days here on earth, he took one last plane ride in a Stearman 1942 biplane.

Dave enjoyed worshiping at First Baptist Church in Wright City.  He served as a deacon, usher and media operator.  He reminisced and chuckled about the time he and the other usher walked in with shotguns while Brother Boone announced, “NOW we will take the offering”.Dave lived by the motto to always be happy and never harbor bitterness.  He enjoyed all the jobs and tasks he undertook.  He wisely and purposely sought God’s counsel to make a conscious decision before he accepted any job or task.  He chose to live life happily.

Dave’s favorite saying was, “I am a native Texan that was accidentally born in Ohio, but it wasn’t my fault”!

Pallbearers will be Rick Sumner, Mike Breckel, Holden Wenger, James Mathis, Duane Womack, Bill Davis,Terry Womack and Nolan Jeske. Honorary pallbearers will be, Tom Wickham, Jon Wickham, Bobby Shannon, Michael Musick, and Paul Pressley III.                      

Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday, September 19,  from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.