Alvin Edward Hicks, 72, of Nitro, went to his heavenly home to forever be a child of his King, January 25, 2008, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

He was born April 12, 1935 in Milburn, WV to Clyde and Effie Hicks. He was a 1953 graduate of Gauley Bridge High School and a graduate of Alderson Broaddus College. He retired from Kanawha County Schools in 1989 after 31 years of teaching, with service at Emmons Elementary, Washington District High School and Nitro Junior High School. He was a real estate agent in the area for many years, having worked for Century 21, Shamrock Realty. He was a member of Twin City Bible Church for over 30 years where he served as choir director, teacher and board member.

Mr. Hicks was preceded in death by his father, infant siblings and mother-in-law.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Frances Evelyn Casto Hicks; mother, Effie Hicks of Nitro; children, Sandra and Greg Young of Cross Lanes, Tim and Jenny Hicks of Roseland, Va., and Shelly and Eric Tissenbaum of Nitro; grandchildren, Hannah, Alex, Ben, Josh, Sam and Sarah; brother, David Hicks of Nitro; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gene and Nila Casto of Murfreesboro, TN; nephew, Monte Casto and family of Murfreesboro, TN; niece, Melanie Strickland and family of Murfreesboro, TN as well as a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, January 27, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Donald Cummings officiating. Burial will follow in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, January 26, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.