Obituaries

Emmett “Dale” Hickman of Lenoir City, TN., passed away on January 9, 2026, in Charleston, SC. He was 76 years old. A proud veteran, he served in the USAF as a defensive bunker sentry in the 377th Security Police Squadron while in Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service. He returned home to Chattanooga, Tn., where he attended Chattanooga State. He went on to become a nuclear engineer and began working at TVA. He later started traveling across the country assisting in the start-up of nuclear power plants, such as Palo Verde in Arizona where he met his wife, Geri. They married in 1991. They eventually settled in Lenoir City, Tn., where Dale retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratories in 2020, and they began enjoying their retired life. Dale was preceded in death by his parents: Charlie and Nellie Hickman, beloved wife: Geraldine, sisters: Gladys Poe, Lovada Vanoer, and Alice Carswell, and brothers: Glen, Robert, and Dossie. He is survived by his brother: Harley (Novice) Hickman, daughters: Janet Middlebrooks and Syliva (Jimmy) Parsley, grandchildren: Kainon and Olivia Middlebrooks, Makayla (Daniel) Self, Spencer (Alysa) Parsley, and Rachel (Logan) Mott, great grandchild: Evelyn Self, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.