Vonnie Monroe Hicks, III died peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, March 17th, 2016. Vonnie was born April 9th 1947, eldest son of the late Vonnie Hicks Jr and the late Peggy West.
Vonnie graduated from Broughton in 1965. He went on to earn a BS from Davidson College in 1969, and a Masters degree in Education with a concentration in Physics from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1987. “Mr. Hicks” went on to share his love of learning with others as a high school teacher for nearly 40 years. Vonnie influenced thousands of students, teaching everything from Math and General Science to Astronomy, and AP Physics at schools in North Carolina (and, briefly, in CA 1996-’99) including Bishop McGuinness in Winston-Salem (1973-’80), North Carolina School of the Arts (1981-’83), and The Career Center (’84-’96). Vonnie was awarded the Tandy Prize for Outstanding Teaching in 1999. Most recently he taught from 1999-2011 at Enloe, where he coached US Academic Decathlon teams to four state championships, and Science Olympiad to eight state competitions, placing within the top ten in the state of NC each year.
His enthusiasm for many interests made Vonnie countless friends. He was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist PEACE Fellowship of Raleigh. An active participant of “UU” camps and conferences; Vonnie was an adult advisor at “LRY” and “YRUU” cons, as well as ROWE camp. He also attended “SUUSI” for more than 30 years and helped institute ways of keeping folks connected via his “Mugbook.” In 1999, at “SUUSI,” Vonnie met Elizabeth, the woman who became his final life partner.
A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, Vonnie leaves behind a wealth of loving family and friends including his wife, Elizabeth Norval, his son Joshua Hicks and wife Susan, and their son Linus Henry of Asheville, and son Zac Burgess-Hicks, his wife Candace, and their son Kal of Greensboro; his step-son Keith Norval, his wife Anna Podris and their daughter Ingrid of Raleigh. He is also survived by his sister Jane Lea Hicks of Conroe, Texas, his brother Thomas Hicks of Wilmington, as well as numerous beloved family members and friends.
Those loved ones who preceded him in death included his parents, and brother, Henry W. Hicks of Tampa, Fl.