Harold Fickett Jr.; Established Outreach Ministries at 2 Churches

Harold Fickett Jr., who established community outreach ministries at two large churches in the San Fernando Valley over a span of five decades, has died at the age of 82.

Fickett, a U.S. Navy chaplain during World War II and a past president of Barrington College in Rhode Island, died Sept. 8 at his home in Nacogdoches, Texas.

“He was a kind and gentle man who practiced what he preached,” said his daughter, Mary Tinsley, of Houston. “He was true to his faith.”

Born March 15, 1918, in Galveston, Texas, Fickett attended public schools. He later earned degrees from Baylor University and Southern Baptist Seminary, and received his doctorate in theology from Eastern Baptist Seminary in 1950. He also was awarded honorary degrees from Brown University and Wheaton College.

An avid athlete, Fickett was a Texas junior tennis champion and an enthusiastic golfer.

Fickett served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Pomona from 1950 to 1954 and Tremont Temple in Boston from 1954 to 1959.

Later that year, he was installed at First Baptist Church of Van Nuys. There, Fickett created the Living Christmas Tree program, which has been adopted by churches nationwide.

Fickett created numerous outreach ministries for blind, deaf, disabled, youth and senior parishioners.

Vivian McBride of Palm Springs, who served as Fickett’s secretary for 10 years, recalled the pastor’s personal touch.

“We talked to him last September on our 40th wedding anniversary and thanked him for tying the knot so well,” McBride said.

In addition, Fickett oversaw the construction of a day school, youth center and senior residence on Sherman Way in Van Nuys.

Fickett Towers has been commended by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for its upkeep and operations, said board member Wilma Mann of Van Nuys. “The towers are an affordable and safe place to live for many seniors,” she said.

In 1975, Fickett accepted the position as president of Barrington College in Rhode Island. His last major pastorate was at the Church at Rocky Peak in Chatsworth from 1978 to 1981 before he retired to Texas in 1993.

“He was a pastor during the ‘60s, he knew how to go with the flow while standing on his beliefs,” Tinsley said. “He had fundamental biblical beliefs, but he had a progressive approach that opened up a lot of opportunities for ministry.”

In addition to Tinsley, Fickett is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Frances; daughter Ruth Ranes of Thousand Oaks and son, Harold Fickett III of Nacogdoches, and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted earlier this week in Nacogdoches.