More detail on this person: Alan Dean Hix HIX, ALAN DEAN 1941-2006. Alan Dean Hix, retired Army lieutenant colonel, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, at the age of 64. He died at his home in Sherwood, surrounded by his family, after a 10-year battle with lung cancer. Born Sept. 11, 1941, in Bushnell, Ill., to the late Albert D. and Lillian Mae Hix, Al was the second son, and the youngest of four children. After a brief stop in Iowa, the Hix family moved to Tacoma, Wash., when Al was 4-years old. He later graduated from Burien's Highline High School in 1959. After graduation, in what would be the first of several entrepreneurial endeavors, Al opened his own Texaco service station. In 1961 he became a journeyman cabinet maker and he later built his own home in Burien, Wash. Al was drafted into the Army in 1965. After his first enlistment he was offered the opportunity to become an army aviator and attended flight training at Fort Hood, Texas. He later served two tours of duty in Vietnam flying AH-1G Cobra attack helicopters with B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Calvary. His many commendations as both an officer and an Air Calvary attack helicopter pilot include: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (13th AWD) W/V Device, Army Commendation Medal W/V Device, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal for six campaigns, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Badge with Palm, and the Army Aviator Badge (Master). Lt. Col. Hix received his associate of science in aviation management in 1977 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Fort Knox, Ky. In 1984, he graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., and received a master of science in management from Salve Regina College. In 1966, while stationed at Fort Ord, Al married Glenda Wall of California. Their son, Alan Jr., was born in 1971 in Fayetteville, N.C. Glenda was lost to cancer three years later at the age of 30. While stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., in 1975, Al met and married Cindy Bain of Des Moines, Wash. Together with her two children, Shelli and Scott, a new family was born. Al and Cindy enjoyed a 31-year marriage and lived at posts in Washington, Kentucky, Germany, Rhode Island and California. In 1987 after 22 years in the Army, Lt. Col. Hix retired from active duty to Portland where he began a new career in Oregon's fledgling display industry. Al became the first employee of InFocus Corp., serving as vice president of operations. He helped build InFocus into a company valued at over $60 million when the company went public in 1990. Al later joined Sarif in 1997 as vice president of operations. Two years later, Al and Cindy took a year off for a cross country tour of the United States in their RV. Al then joined Clarity Visual Systems in 2000, again as vice president of operations. During his career Al his took great pride in developing and challenging the people who worked for him "The most important thing is to take care of your people." As a member of the Columbia River Yacht Club Al and his wife Cindy enjoyed cruising the Pacific Northwest in their yacht the "At Ease." Al and Cindy were also avid RV'ers, water skiers and motorcycle enthusiasts. They split their time between homes in Sherwood and Palm Springs, Calif. "Big Al" was a man who enjoyed a full life in the country that he loved and served. Living life to its fullest was his living motto. He enjoyed being with his family and friends and he will always be remembered for his delight in his six grandchildren. Al's family was the center of his life. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cindy Hix; daughter, Shelli, her husband, Jon Kregel, and their son, Daniel of Austin Texas; son, Scott and his wife, Connie, and their three children, Kara, Kylie and Chase of Wilsonville; son, Alan Jr. and his wife, Chris, and their son, Tyler of Sherwood; sister, Patricia Mae and her husband, Robert Minsch of Yalaha, Fla; brother, Steven R. Hix and his wife, Jean of Camas, Wash.; and mother-in-law, Bobby Jearls, formally of Grass Valley, Calif., now living in Wilsonville. He was uncle and great-uncle to a blended family of many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held at the Columbia River Yacht Club on July 24, 2006, with Rev. Rick Sirianni officiating. Fellow members of the yacht club participated and military funeral honors were included. A private interment attended by family members was held at the Sunset Memorial Hill Cemetery in Bellevue, Wash. Al is buried in the family plot with his mother; father; grandparents; sister, Nancy Panther; previous wife, Glenda Hix; and his niece, Tricia Minsch. During the ceremony an American bald eagle circled overhead in a fitting tribute to the man who gave so much to his family, friends and country. His family wishes to thank the members of the Columbia River Yacht Club for their exceptional assistance in the memorial service, and the assistance of their many friends during Al's last days. Thank you to all the friends and family who attended the memorial service.
Burial information: Sunset Memorial Hill Cemetery, Bellevue, WA
This information was last updated 09/11/2018
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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