Iva May VanMeter

Iva M. VanMeter, 93, of Swanton, Maryland, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, July 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on October 4, 1932, in Clarksville, Pennsylvania, Iva was the daughter of the late Lloyd E. Parrish and Floda A. (Sweitzer) Parrish.

Iva was twice widowed. She was first married to the late Charles Fickes Jr., with whom she shared five children. She later married the late Kenneth B. VanMeter, a U.S. Army Sergeant. For many years, Iva worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Cuppett and Weeks Nursing Home, where she cared for others with kindness, compassion, and a servant's heart. A woman of deep and abiding faith, Iva was of the Brethren faith and loved her Lord and Savior with all her heart. She found great joy in reading her Bible and other Christian books, singing and listening to gospel music, coloring, tending to her beautiful flower beds, and preparing delicious meals for those she loved. She was an excellent cook whose kitchen was always a welcoming place for family and friends, and she will long be remembered for her homemade pancakes that were requested by the grandchildren because she would let them help prepare them. Nothing in life brought Iva greater happiness than her family. She was the family's trusted babysitter, always eager to care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She wrote in her Bible, "My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are the loves of my life." Her eyes would light up whenever the babies came to visit, and those precious moments filled her heart with joy. She loved life and lived it to the fullest, leaving behind countless memories that her family will cherish forever.

She is survived by two sons; Charles K. Fickes and his wife Barb, of Kansas, and Lloyd W. Fickes of DuBois and companion Linda of Pennsylvania; her daughter-in-law, Debbie Fickes of Swanton and son-in-law Fred Graham of Crellin; daughter-in-law, Jolene Fickes of Kansas; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 23 great great-grandchildren; her brothers, James Parrish of Swanton, Robert Parrish of Swanton, and Calvin Parrish of Missouri; and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Iva was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Fickes Jr.; her second husband, Kenneth B. VanMeter; three of her children, George A. Fickes, Robin E. Fickes, and Sherry Fickes Graham; her daughter-in-law, Irene Fickes; one great grandchild and two great great-grandchildren; and her siblings Lloyd Parrish, Edward Parrish, Betty Teets, Mary Grace Parrish, and Alice Paugh.

Iva's life was a beautiful example of faith, selfless love, and devotion to family. Her gentle spirit, warm smile, generous heart, and steadfast belief in God touched everyone who knew her. While her family grieves at her passing, they rejoice in knowing she has been welcomed into her heavenly home, where she is reunited with her loved ones who went before her. Her love and legacy will continue to live on through the generations of family she cherished so deeply.

Friends will be received on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 11 AM to 1 PM, at the Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes, P.A. - Oakland Chapel, 21 N. 2nd. Street. A funeral service will be held at 1 PM in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Carl Lee officiating. A private interment will be in the Garrett Co. Memorial Gardens.

The Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes - Oakland Chapel, is honored to be serving the VanMeter family.