Marilou Hoag Hiltabiddle

1932 - 2021

Marilou Hoag Hiltabiddle of Sheffield Village passed away after a brief illness Monday December 6, 2021. She was born August 25, 1932 in Elyria and grew up in Sheffield Village on Abbe Road when it was just a 2-lane country road. She graduated from Brookside High School in 1949 and earned a BS degree in Home Economics Education at Baldwin Wallace College in 1953, where she enjoyed playing clarinet in the band and was president of Delta Zeta sorority. She also earned an Associate degree at Lorain County Community College in 1983. Upon graduation from BW in 1953, she worked as a home service representative for Ohio Edison in Elyria, where she was one of the first home economists to demonstrate the “new” technology of the microwave oven. At one of those home oven demonstrations, she met her future husband, Bob Hiltabiddle. They were married September 3, 1955, at the First United Methodist Church in Elyria. In 1958, they started Hiltabiddle Greenhouse and grew gourmet tomatoes and cucumbers for 36 years. They enjoyed family vacations camping in their Airstream trailer and ultimately visited all 50 states. Marilou was a 70+ year member of First United Methodist Church, Elyria where she worked as the financial secretary/business administrator for 11 years and served on various committees. She was member of the Elyria Service League, the 95 Club, and Elyria Country Club. She was also past president and board member of Family Planning of Lorain County. She liked to knit and has made many shawls for the Prayer Shawl ministry of her church. Since living at Wesleyan Village, she enjoyed playing in the bell choir. Marilou was a lifelong fan of the Buckeyes, the Browns, and especially her beloved Cleveland Indians. During the season, the game was always on in the background, keeping her & Bob company all summer long. She began every morning with a crossword puzzle and watched Jeopardy every evening.She enjoyed playing bridge, was an avid reader, and was known far and wide for her homemade pies, which always sold for top dollar at local charity auctions. She threw elegant dinner parties, cooked wonderful meals for her family every night, and never missed a child’s concert or sporting event. Marilou also had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She would often send them special notes in the mail and treasured their summer visits to Ohio. Marilou is survived by her husband Robert E. “Bob” Hiltabiddle; daughter Linda (Ron, deceased) Wilson of Westerville, OH; son Timothy (Sibel) Hiltabiddle of Savannah, GA; daughter Lisa (Rocky) Paden of Silverthorne, CO; grandchildren Kelly (Timothy) Tinghino of Bothell, WA; and Patrick Paden of Denver, CO; great granddaughter Madelyn Tinghino, step grandchildren Sarabeth (Jared) Balzano of Gahanna, OH; Timothy Wilson of Westerville, OH; and Emily (Rhen) Daffin of Gahanna, OH; and step great grandchildren Jacob and Carsten Balzano and Eden and Odin Daffin; and brother John “Jack” (Patsy) Hoag of Lake Wales, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents Ellis D. “Bud” and Erna (Dewald) Hoag. Friends will be received Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 1:00 pm until the time of a 2:00 pm memorial service at First United Methodist Church, 312 3rd Street, Elyria with Reverend Kent Joy officiating. A family burial will be in Garfield Cemetery, Sheffield Village. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, Elyria or The Cleveland Orchestra in her memory. Arrangements are in the care of Dicken Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Elyria. For online condolences visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com