Arlene Louise Hicks

November 22, 1942 - January 16, 2022

Arlene Hicks Nov. 22, 1942 – Jan. 16, 2022 Arlene Hicks–mother, grandmother, and friend–passed away peacefully in a residential care home in Tucson on January 16. She was 79 years old. Arlene’s life was spent in service to others–her family, her friends, her community, and her church. She was always giving. Whether it was sending a card or gift to someone in need, volunteering in the church nursery, or baking chocolate chip cookies for her grandkids, Arlene’s love was felt by everyone who knew her. She was an amazing mother, a supportive wife, and a devoted friend. Her goal was to make people laugh. She had a lighthearted, silly sense of humor and always had a smile on her face. She had dozens of lifelong girlfriends with whom she enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, power walking, and drinking tea. At 72, Arlene divorced her second husband and moved to Tucson to start a new life and be near her kids. It was there that she met the love of her life, Russell (Bud) Schult (deceased), with whom she would enjoy the next few years before succumbing to dementia. The time that Arlene and “her Bud” had together was short, but it was the happiest, most loving relationship of her life. The two were inseparable, and enjoyed everything from decorating their apartments for holidays to a Caribbean cruise, laughing hysterically much of the time. Arlene was born in Youngstown, OH. She graduated from Cheney High School and cum laude from Youngstown State University, with a degree in education. In her early career Arlene was an elementary school teacher. After moving to Wyoming, MI in 1973 with her first husband and two children, Arlene worked on her master’s in education and continued to teach. After a few years, she changed careers and spent 25 years in the office refurbishment business, moving from receptionist at a small company to manager of the customer service department at Gilford of Maine in Grand Rapids, MI. Prior to moving to Tucson, Arlene was a member of Redeemer Covenant Church in Byron Center, MI. She volunteered for the American Cancer Society and enjoyed assisting her second husband with administrative and travel logistics for a senior softball league. Arlene is survived by two children and two grandchildren from her first marriage to Stephen Toth (deceased): daughter Cheryl Toth (Rich Luhr, husband) of Tucson, and son Marc Toth (Cindy Toth, wife) of Tucson as well as grandchildren Blake Toth of Denver and Mackenzie Toth of Scottsdale. She is also survived by the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of her former husband Gerald Hicks (deceased).