William L. "Bill" Hicks, Sr., of Valrico, FL, formerly of Melrose, passed away at the Brandon Regional Hospital in Brandon, FL on Oct. 21, 2019 at the age of 81. Bill was born in Chelsea, raised in East Boston and a graduate of Joseph H. Barnes High School in East Boston. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Marines and resided in Melrose for 40 years. Bill was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and had a try out as a left handed pitcher for the Red Sox. He owned The Dug Out baseball card store in Melrose, loved Suffolk Downs and had his own race horse. Bill enjoyed traveling to New Hampshire with his family to Clark's Trading Post, Storyland, Santa's Village, Six Gun City and owned a home in Whitefield, NH. He was the beloved husband of the late Frances A. "Fran" (Dargan) Hicks for 43 years. Devoted father of Deirdre Lopez & her husband Oscar of Derry, NH, William L. Hicks Jr. & his wife Judith of Melrose, Shawn Hicks & his spouse Philip Galotta of FL, Daniel Hicks & his wife Christen Mills of Walpole & Jason Hicks of FL. Cherished grandfather of Nicholas & Bianca Lopez and Mary, Luke & Max Hicks. Brother of Les Hicks, Charles Hicks, Eleanor Hurley, Robert Hicks and the late George Hicks, Nathalie Kivley, John Hicks and Ruth Batchelder. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives & friends. Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019 from 4-7PM. Procession from the Gately Funeral Home on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019 at 9:45AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St. Wakefield at 11AM. Relatives & friends invited. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.