Helen (Prettyman) Progar Hickam, 88, of Wilmington, DE (and Dade City, FL), passed away September 16, 2023, at her winter home in Dade City, Florida. Helen was born in November, 1934, in Laurel, Delaware, to Herbert Joseph Prettyman and Evelyn (Paige) Prettyman. Helen was an active student at Laurel High School, participating in band, choir, and cheerleading. She graduated from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Sociology in 1955. On December 18 of that same year she married Henry M. ("Hank") Progar, who had moved to Laurel a few years before to teach art in the Laurel schools. Helen and Hank enjoyed a good sense of humor and had an active circle of friends, who often played bridge on Saturday evenings. Helen remained close with many of these friends, even after moving upstate years later. Initially Helen was a stay-at-home mom. After their two children were in school, Helen became a teacher at the North Laurel Elementary School. After moving with her family to Wilmington, Delaware, in 1968, she taught elementary school and later middle school social studies in the Stanton School District, which later was consolidated into the Red Clay Consolidated School District. She insisted on being a Super Mom, always preparing a cooked breakfast and delicious homemade dinner for her family every day. The family spent many school holidays and summers travelling the country with their travel trailer, sometimes sharing their vacations with friends. They often visited historic sites that Helen could then better share with her history students, while Hank painted the diverse scenery. Helen and Hank also chaperoned high school student trips to Greece and Germany, Austria, and Switzerland together, enjoying the opportunities to travel abroad. Sadly, at the age of 47, Helen was widowed when Hank suddenly passed away. Not one to dwell on her grief, Helen turned to traveling to lift her spirits, and encouraged her widowed sister-in-law to accompany her on a trip to visit her daughter in Austria. Some years later Helen retired after 25 years of teaching. Always a caregiver, Helen soon began caring for her parents Herbert and Evelyn Prettyman, in her home. For a while she also cared for her uncle Edwin Paige. There were many jokes about her running an assisted living facility in her house. Seven years after Hanks passing, Helen met J. Frank Hickam, Jr., whom she married on November 24, 1989, in the company of all of their children and grandchildren. Her close childhood friend, Mary Ann Hopkins Fasold, served as her matron of honor. Helen and Frank found they shared a love of traveling and eventually visited all 50 states and many US National Parks in their various RVs, with their beagle Buddy. They bought a second home in Travelers Rest (TR) RV Resort, Dade City, Florida, where they spent the winters for over 20 years. Helen enjoyed playing bridge again, reading, writing for the TR Times, and acting in the TR Little Theater plays. Helen and Frank enjoyed entertaining; Helen was an excellent cook, who shared her cooking as one way of expressing her love. She was especially known for her chicken and "slippery" dumplings. Her grandchildren raved that she made the best chocolate chip cookies, which she was happy to bake even though she did not like them herself. She loved to give back to others, and was known as the "Emanual Dining Room Angel" at St. James Millcreek Episcopal Church, as she and Frank sponsored the churchs week serving the food kitchen. Friends and family were always most important for Helen. Just four weeks before her passing, Helen was excited to see her granddaughter Sarah Jaumann married in Minnesota, with Sarah wearing the wedding dress Helen wore when she was married in 1955. Helen was preceded in death by her first husband, Hank Progar, in November 1982, after 27 years of marriage; by her second husband Frank Hickam, in October 2021, after 32 years of marriage; by her parents, Herbert and Evelyn Prettyman; and by her brother Edwin Prettyman. Helen is survived by her son Gary Progar (Leslie) of Milford, DE; daughter Paige Progar (fianc Richard Harrison) of Broomfield, CO; 7 grandchildren: Sarah Jaumann (Artie Byron), Alex Jaumann, Jennifer Winslow, Elizabeth Darling (Brian), Kylie Hickam, Samantha Hickam, and Abigail Hickam; step grandson Zachary Manning (Victoria Duprey); and 2 great-grandchildren: Dante Perkins and Erin Darling. Other surviving members of Helens combined family are Franks children: Theresa Kolbe, Paula Durso (Loretta), and Jesse F. Hickam III. A Celebration of Life was held in Florida at The Travelers Rest RV Resort on September 21, 2023. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 11:30 AM at St. James Millcreek Episcopal Church, 2106 St. James Church Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, followed by interment of ashes in the church cemetery and luncheon in the Parish Hall. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, those who would like to express sympathy send memorial donations to their favorite charity, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, or the American Cancer Society.