Richard Jicks, 79, of Chattanooga, TN, passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2026, after a lengthy illness.

He was born in Miami, FL to the late Richard James Jicks, Sr. and Margaret May Jicks. Richard was born during the “Baby Boom” post World War II. He grew up in Miami, attending Allapatla Baptist Church faithfully as a youth. Richard spent most of his teenage years fishing the many waterways, ocean and canals of south FL, where he developed a life-long passion for the outdoors, fishing and hunting. He was a crack-shot with any projectile weapon. He was a graduate of Miami-Jackson Central High School and Miami-Dade Metro Community College.

Richard then enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1964, at the age of 17, reporting to Fort Jackson, SC. He was then stationed at Martin Army Hospital in Fort Benning, GA, where he trained to become an X-Ray Technician. Prior to the start of the Vietnam War, Richard served as a Medic, assisting the 111th Air Assault Division that merged with the 2nd Infantry Division, known as the famed Air Calvary. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class, overseeing the Radiology Department that lead to spending the next 14 years with the 324th Army General Hospital in Miami, FL. While there, Richard became certified as a Radiology Technologist in X-Ray and Nuclear Medicine while at Miami-Jackson Hospital.

After working several years at Miami-Jackson Hospital, he relocated to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA to serve as the Chief Technologist in Nuclear Medicine. While at Grady Memorial, Richard served as the Associate Professor of Nuclear Medicine at Emory University. While residing in Atlanta, Richard met the love of his life, Kathy Lorraine Moore Jicks. Together, they started a journey that led to an incredible 49 years of marriage and were blessed with an amazing family. Richard and Kathy resided in many places but found their home in Chattanooga, TN as a great place to retire.

Richard had a passion for business, using his medical experience in healthcare, led him to a career in medical sales. Using his medical knowledge, he worked for places such as Ohio Nuclear and Johnson & Johnson’s Techni-Care Division. Richard later owned Summit World Trade which later merged with Hitachi Medical Systems of America (HMSA). He spent 16 years as a Sales Representative, which was the steppingstone to being appointed as the National Sales Manager in Ultrasound. Richard retired from HMSA in 2005.

Richard is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kathy Moore Jicks; children, Robert “Bob” (Britta) Jicks, Erin (Matt) Kneuttel and Jonathan (Lindsay) Jicks; grandchildren, Courtney (Daniel) Nelson, William “Bobby” Jicks, Robert Jicks, Jr., Ethan Kneuttel and Gracie Meadows; great-granddaughter, Oliva Nelson; sister, Mary Ann (Jim) Barry and his beloved dog, Harley.  Richard will be forever loved and forever missed.

The family will receive friends from 12 Noon ~ 1 PM Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the funeral home followed by the service at 1 PM in the funeral home chapel with Minister Robert Johnson officiating. The family will have a private interment.

To share your memories of Richard, please visit www.hamiltonfhofchattanooga.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, (423) 531-3975.