Earl Cammack Ricks

Earl Cammack Ricks, 97, of Huntsville, Alabama passed away peacefully at his home February 18, 2022. Earl was born at home on December 7, 1924 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He grew up during the great depression, and graduated from Deshler High School. Pearl Harbor was attacked on his 17th birthday; the following year he enlisted with the Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater as an aircraft gunner and mechanic. The Navy reassigned him to flight school, but the war ended before he finished his training. Following his discharge from the Navy, he attended Florence State University on the GI Bill. There, he met Amy Wright, his future wife. They were wed June 10, 1947 in Florence, Alabama. The couple moved to Knoxville where Earl earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from UT, while Amy taught English at Alcoa High School. The couple moved to Huntsville in 1952 where Earl worked for the US Army. He contributed much to national defense and had many significant accomplishments during his career with the Army. They reared three sons in Huntsville. He was a leader and Scout Master in the Boy Scouts. Troop 7. He loved music and had once been in a jazz band and played both the trombone and piano. He sang with the Barber Shop Quartet and the choir of First Presbyterian Church, where he also served as a deacon and later as an elder. He was a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church at the time of his death.

Earl is survived by his sons, Henry (Sheila), David Wright (Polly), Timothy (Gayle); grandchildren, Kate Pease, Jessica Thomas, Jill Cagle (John), Ragan Crowell (Dan), Emily Ricks, Ivy Patrick (Rev. Matt), Dr. William Ricks (Christina); great-grandsons, Matthew Pease, William Ricks, Jr, Walter Ricks; great-granddaughters, Bella Cagle, Taylor Cagle, Anna Cleveland Ricks, Annie Cammack Patrick; nieces, Sandy (Joe), Susie, Jennifer (Mike), Dora Ann (Walt), Mary; nephews, Charlie (Donna), David Bell (Tan), John  Walker (Spring); and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 1413 McClung Ave, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 on Saturday, March 12 at 11 A.M. The family will have a short time of visitation prior to the service from 10 am until 11 am..

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 1413 McClung Ave, Huntsville, Alabama 35801.

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