John William Vickers

April 15, 1928 - October 18, 2009

John W. “Jack” Vickers, 81, died quietly at his home on October 18, 2009 in Fort Pierce, Florida. He was born on April 15, 1928 in Cambridge, New York. He was the son of Dr. Denver M. & Miriam Garrett Vickers.

Jack earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and a Masters degree from Northeastern University. During his college years, he was an officer in the R.O.T.C., a member of the Sigma Phi Fraternity, and on the Ski Patrol in Killington, Vermont. After graduation he was employed by AVCO, General Electric and Pratt and Whitney. Among his notable accomplishments, was heading the team that designed the heat shield used for the Apollo missions. He retired after twenty years in the Engineering field. Jack then purchased I. M. Waters’ Mens Wear in Fort Pierce from his father-in-law, in the late 1960’s, acting as owner/manager through 1986.

He was well known in the Fort Pierce community as a fair and generous landlord and property manager. An avid reader, he also enjoyed plotting hurricanes, astronomy, trading stocks, and NASCAR.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Claire Waters Vickers (April 23, 2004).

Survivors include daughters, Nancy & Mark Grant of Thomson, Georgia, Betsy & Dan Hendrix of Atlanta, Georgia, & Janie & Jimmy Hightower of Atlanta, Georgia; Also survived by grandchildren, Kristen, Elizabeth, & Caroline Grant, Lauren & John Hendrix, Maxwell Hightower; & great-grandson, Grant Burnley.

Funeral Information

Visitation will be held Friday from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at the Yates Funeral Home & Crematory, Fort Pierce Chapel, where Services will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Interment will follow at Riverview Memorial Park, Fort Pierce.

Donations Information

Contributions as a Memorial may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospice, 2500 Virginia Avenue, Suite #202, Fort Pierce, FL 34981 or the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 Fourth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.