Ellison Vickery Obituary

Lieutenant Colonel Ellison B. ("Vic") Vickery, United States Army (Retired), and resident of the Villages in Florida, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born in Lowell, MA. Vic enlisted into the United States Army Infantry right out of high school in 1958. He never meant to make the military a career, yet, he served for 21 years active duty, which included three separate years in combat during the Vietnam War in 1963, 1966, and 1970. He was assigned as a Special Operations Forces Officer and led combat missions that included ambushes, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. This entailed many high intensity battles against the enemy. It was during these 3 years of incredible bravery and sacrifice that Vic was wounded in action as a Captain and a Major 5 times. This resulted in being awarded 5 Purple Heart medals and he was inducted into the National Purple Heart Hall Of Honor. In addition, this brave American hero earned and was awarded 5 Bronze Star medals for his acts of heroism and meritorious service in a combat zone, and 2 Silver Star medals for his valor and gallantry in combat against an enemy of the United States and 29 Air Medals. He was Special Forces in 1963-64, Company Commander in Cu Chi in 1966 where he lost a total of 35 men, 11 of which died as a result of one mission. 1970 found him in I Corps with the 198th Brigade. He was a Battalion Commander at Ft. Hood TX in the late 1970s and then stationed at Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA. Vic earned a Bachelor's Degree at Park University, Kansas City, MO (Economics) and a Masters of Business Degree from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. He was an Adjunct Professor for Golden Gate University's Extension program. He entered the Department of Defense civilian workforce for 20 years after his military retirement and was recognized with numerous awards for his meritorious service and leadership within the Army's Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Retirement from Civil Service was in 1999 after 20 years service in C-4--- Command, Control, Computers and Communications. Vic is survived by his wife, Suzanne of 43 years of marriage, sons Jeffery and Christopher; grandchildren Chelsea and Camden. Siblings include Ruth Lambert and her 5 children Bill, Adam, Debbie, Amanda, and Sherry; James Vickery and his daughter Sharon, and Margaret Bedsole and her sons Bobby and Russell; and many cousins including Carroll Lee. Predeceased by his parents Ellison B. Vickery Sr. and Mary Vesey Vickery. Military Honors Ceremony at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 10 am. Friends are cordially invited to attend at 12PM a Celebration Of Life event at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Event Center located at 3975 Wedgwood Lane, The Villages, Florida. His love of golf kept him searching for that lucky hole-in-one, which the golf gods deemed not to be. Motorcycle riding in the hills of TN was his other love on the Devil's Triangle and The Tail of the Dragon with 318 curves in 11 miles kept him fearless and yet humble. He never had to hang any item on The Tree of Shame at Deal's Gap NC. A founding member of MOPH chapter 607 in Newport News, Va, a founding and Life Member of American Legion Post 256 with a 6-year run as Commander. MOPH commander of Chapter 607 and he even volunteered in the psych ward of the VA Hospital, Hampton VA. He met his wife Suzanne at the Navy Breezy Point Officers Club in Norfolk VA at a weekend seafood buffet, each attending with their own set of friends. It was love at first sight although it took him over a year to convince Suzanne to marry him. They married Dec 26, 1981, at the Chapel of the Centurion inside the moat at Ft. Monroe, Virginia.