Harold "Choppy" Rickman

Mr. Harold “Choppy” Rickman, age 91 of Bolivar, Tennessee, departed this life Monday, February 4, 2019 at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

Mr. Rickman was born Thursday, February 2, 1928 in McNairy County, Tennessee to the late Walter and Sallie Burns Rickman. He worked on his daddy’s farm in Milledgeville until he married Virginia Willis in 1949, at which time they moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There, he worked at McDonald Air Craft before returning to Milledgeville. He moved to Bolivar in 1979 and on Friday, October 12 of that year, he was united in marriage to Betty Gray Howell, who survives. He farmed for a few years and drove an 18 wheeler over-the-road truck until he retired in 1988.

Harold gave his life to God and he and his wife joined Hebron Baptist Church in Middleton in 2003. He enjoyed ball games, turkey hunting, camping, traveling and attending church. He liked to talk, loved to eat, enjoyed staying current on world news and loved his church family.

In addition to his wife of 39 years, survivors include two sons, John Rickman of Kansas and Harold Ray Rickman of Nashville; four stepdaughters, Pamela Howell (Rickie) of Middleton, Joyce Wright (Billy) of Nashville, Melody Breeden of Cordova and Vanessa Culbreath (Tommy) of Murfreesboro; a brother, Jerry Rickman (Margarett) of Crump; 1 granddaughter, 8 step grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and 12 step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ronald "Ronnie" Rickman; 4 brothers, Gene, Otis, Roy and Carl Rickman; and four sisters, Beatrice Hughes, Grace Spencer, Dorothy Bridges and Marie Wells.

Charitable contributions made in Mr. Rickman’s memory may be sent to the American Legion, Lodge #162, 174 Warren Ave., Selmer, TN 38375, or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/donate).