Wyley Carroll Hixson, 81, born Dec. 31, 1925 in Lakewood, Ohio, died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June of 1943 and served as a radio technician until August 1946. Under the GI Bill, he attended Ohio State University receiving his bachelor of science and master’s degrees in electrical engineering in 1952 and 1954. He and his wife Laurel Merz were married in 1949 and moved to the Gulf Coast in 1954.
At that time he began work as a research engineer for the Naval School of Aviation Medicine that later became the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. His main research interests involved the study of biophysics of the vestibular system and the design of linear and angular acceleration man-related motion devices.
He moved from Pensacola to their Lillian farm in 1979 and retired from the Laboratory in 1988. He was always an active conservationist belonging to the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation and Nature Conservancy, and most importantly, the Bream Fishermen Association of Pensacola.
Survivors include his wife, Laurel Hixson; two sons, Wayne Hixson of Costa Rica, and Bill (
Allison) Hixson of Magnolia Springs; three daughters, Connie (Kevin) Wood of Pensacola, Fla., Cindy Robles of Magnolia Springs, and Kathie Davis of Maui, Hawaii; grandchildren, Connie Wood of Pensacola, Fla., Georgia and Weston Robles of Magnolia Springs, Patrick and Jill Davis of Maui, Hawaii; William, Jack and Sellers Hixson of Magnolia Springs; and brother, William Edward Hixson of Cleveland.
An informal gathering of family and friends will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Nature Conservancy, St. Jude Hospital or your favorite charity.
