Arloa Mae Bickford

Arloa Mae Bickford, age 93, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Ithaca, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at Isabella County Care Facility.

Arloa was born April 8, 1918, in Fowlervile, Michigan, the daughter of Vern and Beatrice (Sober) Duncan. She graduated from from Corunna High School an then attended nursing school in Traverse City, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse. She married Merle Bickford on November 18, 1960 in Owosso. He preceded her in death on November 4, 1997. 

Arloa worked for ten years on the medical and surgical floors at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Arloa was also an avid editorial writer, contributing many letters to the editor of the Morning Sun.

Arloa is survived by her children, Sharon (William) Bierschbach of Willis, Texas, and Gary (Frances) Bickford, of Browns Mills, New Jersey; her grandchildren, Mark Rourke, Michael Rourke, Susan (Ceasar) Hinojosa, and Sherri (Cutis) Endsley, all of Texas; 8 great grandchildren; and 8 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Lynn Crutts; her step-son, Charles Bickford; her brother, Vincent Duncan; and her sister, Garnet Kimball.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, May 16, at the Barden Funeral Home in. Interment will follow in North Star Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service on Monday. Memorial contributions may be made to Ithaca Senior Activity Building.