SACRAMENTO, Calif. Clifford L. Rickman was born on
Oct. 29, 1930, the only child to Clifford Sr. and Ruth Gordon Rickman in
Newton.
Clifford played basketball and baseball in school and was considered an
excellent athlete. While attending Bethel College in North Newton, the Korean
War was raging and Clifford decided to join the Air Force instead of waiting to
be drafted. He always said he didn't like to march and wouldn't make a good
foot soldier, so Clifford went to fulfill his dreams of flying. Unfortunately,
after an injury which prevented him from becoming a pilot, Clifford, better
known by his military buddies as Rick, began a 20-year military career as
maintenance officer.
In 1957, Rick met Emily Jean McCullough when she came to
Sacramento to visit her older brother, Walter, also stationed at Mather AFB and
a buddy of Rick. The couple was
married on Jan. 31, 1959, and a year later started a family. The young family
traveled across the United States and the world due to Rick's military service.
Maj. (RET) Rickman decided to retire back to Sacramento, where he and his wife
have lived for the past 40 years.
Still a young man after retiring, Cliff, a very versatile
person and one to not let grass grow under his feet, studied, received his real
estate license and sold real estate for the former Tom Kieran Realty Firm in
Sacramento for a year. Next up on the docket was a stint at Sears Inc., where
he helped couples and families to redesign their kitchens. Cliff finally found
his second professional home with the help of his good friend John Jackson at
Sacramento County as a tax appraiser for 18 years.
Upon the family's return to Sacramento, Cliff joined St.
Andrews A.M.E. Church in 1978. For many years he was an elected trustee and a
member of the Brotherhood. Cliff became known as Mr. Fix-It when it came to the
maintenance needs of the church. In 2006, Cliff become trustee emeritus and
when called would be there. Over the years, Cliff has been there for family and
friends, whether it was to advise someone on who would be best to fix your car,
paint your house or lay tile in your bathroom. Cliff also was involved with the
Retiree Military Life monthly luncheon.
On Feb. 24, 2012, Clifford was called home, where he was
welcomed by those who preceded him: his parents, Clifford Sr. and Ruth;
in-laws, Walter and Violet McCullough; and sister-in-law, Ethel
McCullough. He is survived and will be forever missed by his loving
wife, Emily; daughter, Sheri (Dorsey); granddaughters, Lydia and Chelsea; and
his favorite, "Big Gal", great-granddaughter Kennedy; brother-in-law, Walter
McCullough; niece, Stephanie Thomas; nephew, Walter (Diana) McCullough; as well
as the many others whom Clifford considered to be his children and
grandchildren.
1930 - 2012 (81 years)