Kenneth Bickham

Kenneth Lawrence Larry Bickham passed away Saturday evening, September 27th from his home here on earth to his heavenly home in a blaze of glory, with the most beautiful sunset shining over his bed, and surrounded by his loving family. The visitation will be from 6-8 pm Wednesday, Oct. 1 at Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main Street, Brenham, Texas 77833 and the funeral will be at 11am Thursday, Oct. 2 at St. John Lutheran Church at Prairie Hill, Old Independence and Prairie Hill Road. He was born March 4, 1940 at home in Mercer County, Ohio to Kenneth Elwood Bickham and Edna Mae Rupert Bickham. He grew up in the small town of Kossuth, Ohio along the Miami/Erie Canal. He graduated from Spencerville High School, Spencerville, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree of Mechanical Engineering; he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers for over 25 years, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. He was also a cadet with the ROTC program at the University of Cincinnati and was a 2nd Lt. upon completion of his basic training. He went to work for Shell Oil Company in the Wood River plant in Wood River, Ill. After one year of working with them he was sent to Germany to complete his military obligation. He was stationed at a missile site in Zweibrucken, Germany. After his return from Germany he finished out his military commitment with the National Guard in Illinois while working at Shell Oil in Research and Development. He was honorable discharged February 1971 as a Captain. He worked for Shell Oil being transferred to Houston, Texas in 1971 and worked for them until his retirement in 1993. He had 3 patents while working at Shell Oil and got his Professional Engineers license. In the same time frame he went to the University of Houston and earned his Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then started working for Baker Hughes making many wonderful friends during his 10 years with them. He started his own consulting business and purchased land in Washington County and worked on weekends on the 30 acres. After he and his wife, Phyllis, built their home in Washington County he did some consulting for Baker Hughes on a part time basis and started building furniture and learning to wood carve. All of the things that he made he gave as gifts to friends and family. He was a member of the Washington County Wildlife Association, the Prairie Hill Volunteer Fire Department, The University of Houston Alumni Association of Brenham, The Prairie Hill Shooting Club and a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill, and Men in Mission of St. John He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Edna Bickham, a brother John who died right after birth, Aunts, Helen Spies, June Bollinger, Helen Kauble all from Ohio, His Aunt Ruth Schell in California, His in-laws, Isabelle Meckley Nevergall and Doris Blaine Nevergall and Richard Arnold Nevergall. He leaves to mourn his passing his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Nevergall Bickham of 54 years of marriage, his children: Kelsey Lorraine Townsend Remmelts Randy, Kara Le Ann Seward Samuel, Kenneth Richard BickhamMelody and Kollin Leigh BickhamCherise, his grandchildren whom he loved dearly: Taryn Townsend HernandezCarlos, Hunter Townsend, Braeden Townsend, Grace Seward, Claire Seward, Samuel Seward, Aurora Bickham, Noah Bickham, Isaac Bickham, Isabelle Bickham, Winter Bickham, Kailey Bickham, and Emily Bickham and Great Granddaughter: Jaelyn Hernandez. Brother-in-Law Dennis Nevergall, nieces and nephews, one aunt, Beulah Carnes in Ohio and many cousins. Memorials can be directed to Hospice Brazos Valley, 302 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833, St. John Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund, 6605 Old Independence Rd, Brenham, Tx. 77833, or Prairie Hill/ Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department, 7559 FM 50, Brenham, Tx. 77833 To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.