Ricks – Horace Allen Ricks, age 103, of Callahan, FL, passed away on August 30, 2020.  Horace was born in Mississippi on December 3, 1916 to Talbert D. and Della Hooper Ricks.  Horace enjoyed his lifelong career of being a boilermaker, and he was a member of The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Tampa Lodge #433. Horace married the love of his life, Beatrice, on Christmas Day of 1935.  They lived an incredibly long life together, sharing in their love and joy through all the changes of the world.

In 2017, the Worldwide Marriage Encounter organization honored Horace and Beatrice with an award for being the longest married couple in the United States.  In an interview that same year, Horace said that the key to staying married for so long was, "Well...you just stay quiet."  True to his words, Horace was a very quiet man.  However, nothing lit up his world more than his wife and his family.  Spending time with them was of the utmost importance to him, and he always looked forward to his family's visits.  He will be dearly missed.

Horace is preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice C. Ricks; his parents, Talbert D. Ricks and Debra (Hooper) Ricks; and his siblings, Holbert B. Ricks, Bolivar G. Ricks, Virginia Ricks Rowland Wilson, and Virgie Mae Ricks Ford.

Horace is survived by his children, Boyd Allen (Sandra) Ricks and Bobbie Gail (Jim) Milton; his nine grandchildren, Anna (Rick) McDonald, Karen Johnson, Lynda (John) Basgall, Brad (Karin) Milton, Stacey (Doug) Mayer, Michael (Angie) Ricks, Leah (Eric) Newsome Conner, Jennie (Chuck) Newsome Griffin and Steven Newsome; his twenty-one greatgrandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will be holding a Celebration of Horace's Life at a later date.  The arrangements are under the care and direction of Nassau Funeral Home, 541720 US-1, Callahan, Florida 32011. 904-879-1770. Visit www.nassaufh.com to sign the family's guest book.