Clayton Valley High - Class of 1966
In Memory: Paul Coe - Rick Lynn Wikle

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These classmates are no longer with us. Given the size of our class, it doesn't claim to be a complete list. If you have additions, corrections or a memories, please send them to me.

Paul Coe, 21 Sep 1948 - 14 Nov 1970. Sgt. Paul Thomas Coe was killed while serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Thua Thien province, Republic of Vietnam.

Paul Tromerhauser, 20 Sep 1947 - 21 Dec 1971. Paul died in an auto accident.

Richard Haines, 02 Mar 1948 - Feb 1975. Richard graduated from the Air Force Academy and went on to fly fighter planes in Vietnam and Germany. He died due to a rare inflammatory lung disease associated with high altitude flight. He left a wife, Jenny. Martin Draznin writes: Dick was one of the absolute great guys in our class. Strong both in body and in spirit, honest, loyal to his friends, fair to anyone who wasn't. He gave 100% effort to everything he did, and with his gift for being a friend he enriched all of our lives.

Frederick Michael (Rick) Benzel, 09 Feb 1948 - 19 Aug 1996. Rick died from a heart attack.

Rick E. Bickford, 4 Feb 1948 - 31 Mar 2001. Toni Wells sent us an obituary: Ricky lived in Benicia for 28 years. The Vietnam Marine veteran attended Diablo Valley College and was a member of the Operating Engineers Union Local 3 and the F-100 Truck Club. He was a supporter of Benicia High School sports and band, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and golf. He left his wife of 31 years, Tamra, a daughter Jessica and a son Benjamin Patrick.

Rick Lynn Wikle, 22 Mar 1948 - 22 Jan 1969.

SP4 Rick Lynn Wikle was killed while serving with the 9th Infantry Division in Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Doug Perez writes:
Rick Wikle was the quintessential nice guy - the boy next door. He always had a smile, and never a harsh word, for anyone and everyone. Quiet and unassuming, he nevertheless was a person who stood out (and still does today) in your mind as being kind, thoughtful and compassionate. It is a tragedy that his life was cut short at such an age. When he died, he was, in some sense, still that nice, quiet, polite boy we knew.

Read Reflections on the Big Chill, an eloquent and moving piece by Doug Perez on time and classmates passing.

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