Herbert Wickham III

Herbert F. Wickham III, 80, of Jackson, died Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 16, 1933, son of Herbert F. and Julia Hagan Wickham Jr.

He and Nancy Rhea were married May 22, 1955. She survives.

He enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1950 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 140th Infantry Regiment in 1955. He served as platoon leader, company commander and commander of the 1140th combat engineer battalion and 135th engineer group.

He retired from the U.S. Army as deputy commander of the 35th combat engineer brigade. Col. Wickham graduated from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in 1982, proudly serving 39 years in the Missouri National Guard and the U.S. Army.

Wickham graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1955 with a bachelor of science degree in education and was a four-year letterman in the football program. He later acquired a master's degree from the University of Missouri.

He taught art and coached varsity football five years at Poplar Bluff High School. He completed his 35 years of teaching at Jackson R-2 High School, retiring in 1991.

Wickham was a well-known artist who painted the rural scenes hereabout in pencil, watercolors and oil. He had several one-man exhibits, was an award winner in shows throughout the region and a member of the Bootheel Regional Art Guild. He was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson, and was a Stephen Minister in that congregation.

Col. Wickham is survived by his wife, Nancy Reah Wickham; a son, Bradford Wickham of Nederland, Colo.; a daughter, Victoria Wickham of Jackson; three grandchildren, Lindsey Wickham and Nicole and Lauren Karlin; and a great-grandson, Noah Wickham.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating. Burial will be at noon Tuesday in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with military honors.

Memorials may be given to the Herbert F. Wickham III Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at mccombsfuneralhome.com.