Margaret Hilliker

Margaret Helen Hilliker, 94, of Ft. Myers, Florida and Bellefontaine, Ohio passed away peacefully in her home Sunday, August 05, 2012, surrounded by family members and beloved caregivers, Anita Tucker and Tina Eagy.

Margaret was born February 24, 1918 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the youngest of six children to the late Frank and Kunigunde Stolle.

On April 29, 1942, she married Donald McMillen Hilliker, who preceded her in death April 14, 2000. Margaret was also preceded in death by brothers, Ralph (Dorothy) Stolle of Lebanon, Ohio, Howard (Edith) Stolle of Ft. Myers, Florida, Lester (Lea) Stolle of Dayton, Ohio and sisters, Charlotte (Paul) Pendery and Irma (Roy) Pendery of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky; and close cousin Vera (Gil) Yearout who grew up in their home with them; also two nieces Mary Jo Stolle Cropper and Jannie Pendery.

She is survived and will be sadly missed by her daughter, Suzanne (Charles) Edwards of Ft. Myers, Florida, and sons Jim (Linda) Hilliker of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Rick (Candy) Hilliker of Ft. Myers, Florida; seven grandchildren, Berk (Charlotte) Edwards of Ft. Myers, Florida, Scott (Jennifer) Edwards of Ft. Myers, Florida, Tiffany (Shawn) Wilcoxon of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Britt (Jim) Gravley of Ft. Myers, Florida, Rick Jr. (Amanda) Hilliker and Jennifer and Elizabeth Hilliker, all of Ft. Myers, Florida; nine great-grandchildren, Alex, Emily and Jessica Edwards, Scotty Edwards, Grace and Mary Belle Hilliker, Mac and Hayden Gravley, all of Ft. Myers, Florida and Maggie Wilcoxon of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Margaret is also survived by many very close and dear nieces and nephews and friends Brenda Jenkins and Betsy Ross.

Margaret loved growing up in her large family and enjoyed family get-togethers through the years with all of her siblings and their children, getting together at her family’s cottage at Indian Lake in the summer, or, later at her brother Ralph’s home in Lebanon for Thanksgiving when the children were smaller, then the fourth of July as the families all grew. This reunion was observed for many years and became a very important event for all the families, creating years of closeness and memories.

Margaret was a homemaker and loved caring for and cooking for her family and friends. She became an accomplished cook and made delicious meals and desserts, especially pies, look easy. She enjoyed bridge and golf with her friends and worked hard at competing successfully in golf, winning ten Bellefontaine County Club Championships. She was a member of Tourist Club, Kings Daughters, and Rake and Hoe Garden Club. Margaret was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Bellefontaine, participating in the Rebecca Circle.

Margaret and Don spent most of the year in Ft. Myers, Florida, where they were also involved with family and friends and were associate members of the Covenant Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed golf at the Cypress Lake County Club, where they had been members since its inception in 1968.

Memorials may be made to the First United Presbyterian Church of Bellefontaine 117 North Main Street Bellefontaine, OH 43311 or the Don M. and Margaret Hilliker YMCA 300 Sloan Boulevard Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

A celebration of Margaret’s life for the immediate family will be held at the First United Presbyterian Church in Bellefontaine, Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 11:00 A.M.

The staff of Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine assisted the family with arrangements.

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