Elton "Jim" Wilcox

Patriotic, hardworking, bighearted – these are just a few of many words that describe Elton “Jim” Wilcox. A very modest man, proud of all his family. Jim’s actions always spoke louder than his words and although he may have been “grumpy” at times, it was his warm, generous heart that made him the man people were proud to know.

In 1926, life was good in the United States. World War I was over, and the Great Depression had not yet threatened the U.S. workforce, so Americans were enjoying relative peace and prosperity. However, the most special event of this year for Virgil and Garnet (Braham) Wilcox of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was the birth of their son, Elton Oshel Wilcox, on May 10, 1926. He was among the oldest of six children and grew up in the company of his siblings: Vern, Peggy, Patty, Don and Lyn.

Jim, as he was called his entire life, grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia, a small town on the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers. He received his education in the area schools, but left after the 9th grade to find his place in the world. Jim found his calling with the U.S. Navy, though he had to forge his birth certificate because of his age. He proudly served his country during World War II, and was also able to earn his GED through a program offered by the Air Force. It was while stationed in California that Jim met his beautiful wife-to-be, Lillian Loftus, who was an art student. The two were initially set up on a blind date and it wasn’t long before Lillian was riding into the sunset on the back of Jim’s Indian Motorcycle. The couple fell hopelessly in love and eloped to Guadalupe, Mexico where they were married on June 25, 1949.

Although Jim received his discharge from the Navy in 1950, he soon re-enlisted to defend his country once again, this time in the Korean War. Once home from this war, Jim and Lillian were finally able to settle down and build a life together in her hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Here, Jim became a police officer with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department, a job he really enjoyed, though his friends weren’t too thrilled about it when he ticketed them. Jim had a daughter, Beverly, from a previous marriage, and it wasn’t long after he and Lillian started a family with four more children: Stephen, Jean, Carol and Pat. With the growing family, Jim and Lillian wanted safety for the children so he hung up his badge and went to work as a Shipping and Receiving Foreman for Kalamazoo Label, In addition to his day job, Jim continued his support in the military, serving as an Army Reservist since the early 1960’s. He loved teaching his children about the base and showing them various equipment, which included a ride in the tank.

Time together as a family was always important to Jim and Lillian and their favorite way to do this was through their travels. They loved to go camping and they hauled tents and pop-up trailers all around the U.S. on trips. They traded in the tents for a travel trailer, then a 5th wheel and eventually for a motor home, which was big enough to later take the grandkids along. Over the years, the family also made many visits to Kansas to visit Lillian’s relatives and one of Jim and Lillian’s favorite stops was in Las Vegas at Sam’s Town Casino and Boom Town Casino. Although there were many great trips, there is always one that sticks out the most in one’s memory. For Jim, it was their trip to Tennessee to a “picturesque” cabin on the lake. Well, that is what the brochure portrayed anyway. When they actually got to the cabin, it was a different picture – screens riddled with holes and the front door hanging off it’s hinges. It was memorable in a different kind of way!

Perhaps because of his years in the military, Jim was a very, regimented kind of guy. For as long as his kids can remember, he went to bed every night at 9 p.m. He’d go and get ready for bed at 8:55 p.m. and lights were out precisely at 9 p.m. In fact, the family regularly watched Gunsmoke at night and Jim never stuck around to see the end because he had to get ready for bed. This was always funny to the kids! Jim was baptized later in life and joined the Catholic Religion. He was also a life member of the VFW Post 6248 in Decatur. Jim retired from Kalamazoo Label in the late 1980’s with more than 22 years of dedicated service.

When it came to his leisure time, Jim and Lil loved going up to their place in Baldwin, Michigan. They spent decades enjoying the peace and tranquility of their trailer in the woods. He was very close with his son, Steve, and they enjoyed hunting up north together and golfing. But most often, Jim could be found tinkering around in his garage, which was always very organized and clean. He also enjoyed woodworking and crafted many keepsakes for his kids over the years. Jim was able to achieve much happiness in a a life dedicated to the simple foundations of hard work and family. He will be deeply missed.

Elton “Jim” Wilcox, age 82 of Vicksburg, Michigan, died unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, July 17, 2008. Visit with his family on Wednesday, July 23, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Homes 409 S. Main Street, Vicksburg. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 24, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 Lake Street, Kalamazoo. Burial with Military Honors will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

Members of Jim’s family include his wife, Lillian; his children: Beverly Walen, of Oregon; Stephen (MaryLynn) Wilcox of Vicksburg; Jean Harrison of Las Vegas; Carol (Carlos) Zuniga of Kalamazoo; Pat Wilcox of Vicksburg; his grandchildren: Denise, Shawn, Laurie, Michelle, Melynda, Melanie, Melissa, Monique, Tammy, Trever, Tara, Crystal, Angel, Luna, Kyle, Arielle; his great grandchildren: Brayton, Kalden, Keely, Keagen, Jayden, Trystan, D’Kameion, Dante, Lily, Preston and Addison; his siblings: Vern, Peggy, Patty (deceased), Don and Lyn; and many nieces and nephews. Please visit Jim’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Senior Services – Meals on Wheels.