Joanne Stander Hicks

Joanne Stander Hicks of Aurora, N.C., died Sept. 22, 2015, after a short illness. She was 81.

Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Nov. 3, 1933, Mrs. Hicks was a graduate of Ottawa High School. Her higher education included Wayne State University in Detroit, Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing, Michigan State University and San Jose State University. She earned degrees in nursing and sociology.
Mrs. Hicks was a beautiful woman inside and out. She spent the majority of her life helping others, first employed as a rehabilitation nurse and Red Cross social worker and later, in her retirement years, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Mercy Ships, through which she traveled to areas of need throughout the United States, Europe, Central America and Africa.

A devout follower of her Christian faith, Mrs. Hicks was an active member of churches wherever she lived, including East Congregational Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Kempsville Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach, Va.; and Campbell’s Creek Methodist Church in Aurora, N.C. She had a beautiful soprano voice and often sang solos in church, and once appeared with the group of church choirs at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Artistically talented, Mrs. Hicks sang in community theater musicals, played the violin and painted in oils, preferring landscapes, nature scenes and horses. A lover of the outdoors, she was an avid tennis player, sailor, beachgoer and horseback rider, and she crisscrossed the country several times on camping trips with her devoted husband of 37 years, Harold E. Hicks.

She was rarely found without two things in front of her: a Bible and a crossword puzzle.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Hicks is survived by her son, Stephen R. Adolphson and his wife, Cathey Adolphson, of Aurora, N.C.; daughter, Susan Adolphson Rose and her husband, Jim Rose, of Rio Vista, Calif.; son, Andrew J. Adolphson and his wife, Noreen Adolphson of Poulsbo, Wash.; step-son, Carl Ray and his wife, Julie Ray, of Santa Cruz, Calif.; grandchildren, Christopher Adolphson, Justin Adolphson and wife, Ashley Adolphson, Clayton Ray, Mason Ray and Darylanna Keegan; great-grandchildren, Laura Adolphson and Sophia Adolphson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Her funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 25th at Aurora United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Stutts and the Rev. Betty Jo Rodgers officiating. Interment will follow immediately in Friendship Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mrs. Hicks’ name to any Habitat for Humanity.