Erie countyy, pa,
Donald Edward Lick, Sr.
Donald Edward Lick, Sr., left this life on June 3, 2009, in Santa Ana, Calif., after a valiant fight with cancer. He was born in Lawrence Park, Pa., on February 14, 1927, and grew up in Erie, Pa., as one of six children. At the height of World War II, the day after graduating from high school, he fulfilled his duty to his country by enlisting in the Navy and spent the last year of the war fighting in the pacific theater. After returning home, he married the love of his life, Gwen Rhapps. Together they had three daughters and one son. After moving to California in 1963, the family added the daughter of their heart. While still in Erie, Mr. Lick was one of the first television announcers on WICU television. Although he supported his family as a systems engineer, music was his passion. Don served as the director of the Mount Calvary Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. In California, he continued serving God through his music as the director of the choir at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church for the next 15 years. Don also appeared in many musical productions, including the Music Man and South Pacific. He was a dedicated member of many different Barbershop organizations having served as director of the Sweet Adelines Garden Grove Chapter and men’s Pasadena and Orange Chapters. During the latter part of his life, he entertained countless residents of local nursing homes and hospitals. He gave his children the gift of a home filled with music and taught them how to break into four part harmony at a moment’s notice. No birthday was ever complete without Papa’s own unique rendition of “Happy Birthday” on the piano. Don is survived by Gwen, his wife of 61 years, his daughter, Melody Johnson, of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter, Cristie Smith, (Harold); daughter, Lisa De Los Reyes, (Glenn); son, Donald Edward Lick, Jr., (Carol), daughter, Felicie Leech, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be private with a celebration of life on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers,

Published in the Erie Times-News on 6/7/2009,