Winifred "Winnie" Hickson

Winifred Judith Meklait Hickson, age 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Ohio Living Rockynol Assisted Living in Akron.
Born March 17, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio to Mr. & Mrs. William Meklait (Edith Grundke), she graduated from Cleveland's John Adams High School in 1943. She studied voice at the Emi De Bidoli School of Vocal Music and Dramatic Art with Madame De Bidoli in Cleveland.
She attended Baldwin Wallace College for three years where she sang in the Bach Festival Choirand was active in the Beta Sigma Omicron Sorority. She was granted the Bachelor of Science in Education by the University of Akron and tapped for membership in the scholastic honorary Alpha Zeta Lambda.
In 1945, Winnie married the Rev. Mr. George A. Hickson, Jr., whom she met while singing in the choir at Epworth-Euclid Methodist Episcopal Church. To their union were born three children.
Over the course of their marriage and George's service as a United Methodist pastor, they lived in Akron, Copley, Mogadore, Sharon Center, South Euclid, Streetsboro, and Youngstown. They retired to Lakeside, Ohio and then to Copeland Oaks in Sebring.
Winnie taught elementary school children for thirty years in various grades and school systems, including Akron, Barberton, Copley, Sharon Center, Streetsboro, and Youngstown. She was recognized as a Martha Jennings Holden Scholar for excellence in teaching and felt privileged to train many student teachers.
She served as a Brownie Scout troop leader and as a member of many school, church, and community committees and organizations. Most recently she was a member of the United Methodist Church of Kent. She also had been a member of the American Association of University Women.
Winnie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She often told people that her greatest successes in life were her children. She was an avid reader and enjoyed numerous hobbies including birding (with more than 400 species on her N. American list), counted cross stitch, sewing, and travel. She and George visited all fifty states and many countries in Europe and the Middle East. She loved Christmas and enjoyed decorating for the holidays well into her 80s.
Survivors include her children, Cynthia L. (Gregg) Robinson of Scottsdale, Arizona; Pamela J. (Jeffrey R. Jr.) Hickson-Stevenson of Rootstown; and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Hickson of Youngstown; and by five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years and by her son, Paul D. Hickson, Sr.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23 at the United Methodist Church of Kent, 1435 E Main St Kent, Ohio 44240.
Preceding the service, the family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Ohio Living Foundation Rockynol, 1150 W Market St, Akron, Ohio 44313 or to the United Methodist Church of Kent, P.O. Box 646 Kent, Ohio 44240.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home.