COLFAX, NC - Mrs. Joanne Hanson Hicken, age 78 resident of River Landing at Sandy Ridge in Colfax died November 17, 2009 in Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro.

Mrs. Hicken was born in Montpelier, Vermont on September 30, 1931 to Howard and Fannie Martin Hanson.

During her early childhood, her mother died and her father married the former Rosina Allen who became a loving and devoted mother to Joanne.

Joanne graduated from the University of Vermont with her degree in home economics and a major in nutrition. She served as dietician with Stanford Connecticut Hospital and later at John Hopkins University Hospital. On November 16, 1955 she married Airman 1st Class Merle R. Hicken. Together, they began their life with military assignments in the U.S., France, and the Panama Canal. In 1975, her husband retired from the military with the rank of Lt. Col. and they moved to Florida where he was associated with Marathon Oil Company for ten years. The couple moved to Greensboro, NC in 2000 to be near their daughter and son-in-law.

Surviving are her loving husband, Lt. Col. Merle R. Hicken, Ret. of the home, one daughter and her husband, Gail and Charles Crabtree of Greensboro, and one son and his wife, Bruce and Barbara Hicken of Hinesburg, Joanne has one grandson, Nathan Hicken of Hinesburg.

There are no services planned at this time. The family requests that memorials be directed to the Moses Cone Regional Cancer Center 501 N. Elam Ave. Greensboro, NC. 27403.

Please share your condolences with the family at their website, www.mem.com. Sechrest Funeral Service in High Point, NC is serving the family.