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Ida G. (Houghtling) Fick
Ida G. (Houghtling) Fick, known to family and friends as Petey and to grandchildren and their friends as Guppy passed on to a higher realm on January 14, 2022. Ida was the beloved third daughter of John Wesley and Mary (Montgomery) Houghtling, beloved wife of Alfred C. Fick, Sr. for 53 years until his death in February, 2002 and beloved mother of Alfred C. Fick, Jr. She is survived by her son and his wife Jahn S. Starr, grandson Devon Fick and granddaughter Elaine (Fick) MacDougall and her husband Kevin Mick, great grandson Rowan Fick, Ms. Starr's daughter's Kimberly Barchette Fackler and her children Chaz, Ellis and Abigail, and Kristie Wallace Davidson and her children Kyrah and Kyrah's son Oluwa and Kevin. She is also survived by Brenda Stevens Baer, her son's first wife and mother of Devon and Elaine. Additionally, she is survived by several nieces and nephews, notably Charles Hornbeck, her godson, and Alice (Swope) Fisher and her husband Richard, and several surrogate sons including Donald J. Collins and his family and Joseph F. Barth III and his family. She leaves behind many kind friends and neighbors. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, sisters Geraldine (Gerry), Vera (Sissy), Mary, Dorothy (Dot) and Chlorinda (Rinnie) and brother John Wesley, Jr.
Ida was born on May 5, 1929, a child of the Depression and the Great War. She grew up in Curtis Bay, living in the Car Shop houses on Morrison Court and later on Sycamore Street. Ida attended Curtis Bay Elementary School, Ben Franklin Junior High School and Southern High School. She swam in Curtis Creek at Second Bridge where she met her husband Alfred who would dive from the bridge.
She began a lengthy career with the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company and the many iterations of the "telephone" company until her retirement in the 1980's. In retirement she enjoyed ceramics at the Anne Arundel County Senior Center, tending her garden and maintaining and entertaining in the swimming pool at her home in North Linthicum, collecting bells, thimbles and music boxes and later traveling with her sister Vera (Sissie).
In her late 70's, with her sister Vera, she entered a program through the Anne Arundel County School System and completed her high school education, graduating with her sister Vera from the same stage at the former Andover High School where her son graduated in 1967. She considered completing her education as one of her greatest achievements and her family was extremely proud of her.
Her kindness, generosity and wisdom will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Family and friends may visit Gonce Funeral Service P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway, on Thursday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9pm. Funeral Service on Friday at 11 am. Mrs. Fick will be laid to rest with her husband Alfred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
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