Marilyn Jane Hicks

At the age of 91, Marilyn J. Hicks passed away peacefully to Jesus while surrounded by family at home on September 19, 2024. Marilyn Jane Sharpnack was born in Santa Rosa, California on May 12, 1933, to parents Roy and Mary Sharpnack. She was the youngest of four children. At the age of ten in 1943, the family moved to Napa to be closer to Roy's job at Mare Island. Her early memories of Napa included selling their family grown apples at Shipyard Acres and picking prunes to earn money for school clothes. Marilyn was active in choral music throughout her school years. She graduated from Napa High School in 1949 and Napa Junior College in 1951 with an AA Degree. She then attended San Jose Bible College (now William Jessup University) for a year certificate in Biblical Studies and Music. Marilyn and her future husband, Bob, both grew up in Napa, met at First Christian Church youth group, began dating and then continued their relationship by correspondence as Bob served in the Navy aboard ship during the end of World War II. Then on August 12, 1951, Marilyn married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Hicks, and enjoyed 54 1/2 years of marriage until his passing in 2006. They remained in Napa for the rest of their lives where they raised four children. Prior to having children, Marilyn worked at McClung's Variety located on the corner of First and Main. As she started having children, she opted out of being employed but besides raising a family she was extremely active at First Christan Church of which she was a member for 81 years. Over the years she served in many ways at the church. Most of her roles were in leadership and teaching, initially in the nursery and children's programs. However, she eventually taught a women's Sunday Bible group for over 35 years. That group still meets to this day. But she always was involved in music, decades of leading choirs, both youth and adult, singing in small groups and as a soloist as well as planning and leading music for worship services. When her children were older, Marilyn took a paid position at First Christian as a Pastor's secretary for 11 years and then retired. But she remained an active volunteer in music, teaching, prayer groups and spiritual formation programs. In her widowed years she was a trained chaplain for the Queen of the Valley hospital, visiting and praying with those in need. Marilyn also loved to write. She always had multiple journals being filled and wrote articles for various groups. the church newsletter, for her homeowner's club and later led a writing class at her retirement home. Marilyn had a deep faith and personal relationship with God. All her activities flowed from her faith and love for Jesus. In her last years she had a great expectation to transition to Heaven to be with the Lord she loved and those who had gone on before her. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Robert Hicks; her father and mother, Roy and Mary Sharpnack; sister, Lorraine Beck Raver; brothers, Ken Sharpnack and Bryon Sharpnack, granddaughter, Julie Hicks as well as many nieces and nephews. She is survived by her son, Dan Hicks (Glynn) of South Fork, Colorado, Joe Hicks (Vickie) of Valley Center, California, Bobbi Hicks of Napa, California, Bill (Julie) Hicks of Vacaville, California, five grandchildren, six great grandchildren and beloved nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life Service will be held for her on Saturday, November 2, 1:30 p.m. at First Christian Church 2659 First Street Napa with a dessert reception following in the church Activity Center. Notes of memories and condolences can be posted on the Treadway & Wigger obituary website.

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Marilyn Jane Hicks

May 12, 1933 - September 19, 2024