Wilford “Rex” Hickox, 98, of Yale, Illinois, passed away at 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Simple Blessings, Casey, Illinois.

Born on November 6, 1926, in Stevens County, Kansas, he was the son of Harold “Harl” McKinnley Hickox and Fanny (Fouty) Hickox. On November 10, 1946, he married Rose Mary Snearley in Jasper County, Illinois. They shared over seventy-one years of marriage before her passing on June 22, 2018.

Rex proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Force and was a World War II veteran. He was a lifelong farmer and enjoyed raising livestock and grain. Rex and Rose Mary were lifetime members of the Walnut Chapel Church of Christ.

Rex and Rose Mary were the proud parents of five sons and three daughters. He is survived by his children, Ilene Stinson (Carroll) of Casey, Illinois, Anita Wattleworth (Rick) of Casey, Illinois, Dale Hickox (Dixie) of Casey, Illinois, David Hickox (Jan) of Casey, Illinois, Darrel Hickox (Linda) of Yale, Illinois, Rowena Warren of New Braunfels, Texas, and Danny Hickox (Monica) of Casey, Illinois; daughter-in-law Jeanette Hickox of Newton, Illinois; 23 grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; and siblings Fanny “Louise” Evans and Bonnie Daniel (Terry).

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife; siblings Don Hickox, Eunice Hickox and Harold “Wayne” Hickox (Lucille); brother-in-law Ronnie Evans; son Donald Hickox; son-in-law Tony Warren; granddaughter Katie Stinson; and great-granddaughter Harley Duniphan.

Funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Casey Methodist Church with Mr. Michael Hickox officiating. Burial will follow in the Walnut Cemetery, rural Casey, with graveside military rites provided by the Casey VFW and Martinsville American Legion. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the Casey Methodist Church, 703 N. Central Ave., Casey, Illinois.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cure Childhood Cancer, 200 Ashford Center N., Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30338, or online at https://curechildhoodcancer.org, or to the Brain Trauma Foundation at https://braintrauma.org/donate.

Markwell Funeral Home, Casey, Illinois, is in charge of the arrangements.