Obituary of Glen Howard Wilcox

Glen Howard Wilcox Sept. 30, 1927-Nov. 30, 2019 A SPECIAL LIFE entered the world on September 30, 1927. Glen Wilcox was born to Ethel & Robert Wilcox in Heppner, Oregon. He was the youngest of three brothers and two sisters who made up the Wilcox family. Many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandkids and great-grandkids emerged from this group. The family moved to Hermiston, Oregon, when Glen was in second grade. He attended Hermiston High School where he excelled in five different sports as well as being the student body president his senior year. He graduated in 1945 when most of his friends were drafted into the US Army during WWII. He wanted to join the Navy like his brother, Lester, so at age 17, Glen talked his Mother into signing for him to join the Navy Air Corps. The Navy had a program at that time called ‘Kiddie Cruise”. It gave him the opportunity to sign up as soon as he turned 17 years old and serve a three year enlistment instead of four, getting out of the service when he turned 21 years old. Glen was sent to San Diego for boot camp, finishing just after the United States had dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. Many of the sailors who had been fighting were shipped back to the states. The newly enlisted sailors were then sent out to sea to replace them. Glen was disappointed because he discovered he wasn’t going out to sea. He was sent to Jacksonville, Florida, to teach electronics at a new school they had just set up when the Navy found he excelled at teaching. He played football, basketball and tennis while in the Navy, where his flying hours in a “cloth coated dive bomber” satisfied his flight training. Glen was honorably discharged from the Navy on his 21st birthday. He entered The University of Florida for two years to follow his passion for education. It was there that he married his first wife, Gwen, and welcomed his daughter Cynthia into the world. They divorced and Glen moved back to Oregon in 1952 intending to enroll at OSU. While working for his brother Claude in his machine shop, some friends introduced him to Reed College and he began his junior year there instead of OSU. At this time, he was asked to be assistant athletic director for his senior year as the present athletic director had quit. Glen accepted the position knowing it would then take two years to finish his senior year instead of one. During the summer of his junior year, 1953, he lived in the boiler building at Reed College and was in charge of the maintenance as well as the summer recreation program. This included the swimming pool and day camp programs using the athletic facilities. While lifeguarding at Reed during the summer of 1953, Glen met a young lady that had taught swimming lessons before. She came to swim after work with her friends. Her name was Joan. He asked her out, she said, “Yes!”, and the rest is history! When he found Joan’s Mother, Alice, played bridge, Joan had to learn to play bridge or not marry Glen! Glen became part of Lee’s, Joan’s brother, life and among other things coached Lee and his high school friends’ Golden Ball basketball team. Glen actually let the boys coach themselves. He just made it all possible and sat on the bench watching! A meaningful and spirited relationship developed and held throughout the years. Joan & Glen married and spent the next 65 years in a very loving relationship while also working side by side. Glen graduated in Physics where he wrote his thesis titled, “Neutron Photography”, which is still available on the internet. Glen & Joan bought 40 acres of land on Mt. Scott in SE Portland and Glen designed and built a gunite swim pool with outside gutters. The intentions were to teach swimming in the summer, as well as run a summer day camp and then teach public school during the rest of the year. Their plans changed and they decided to cover the pool and provide swim lessons year round. The day camp ran during the summer and provided activities including trampoline, archery, hiking, fort building, horseback riding, singing, sports, and swim lessons to thousands of local children for 26 years! There are SO MANY that feel very fortunate that they got to experience this magical place called “Play Haven”. During their first years of Play Haven, Glen and Joan welcomed the 4K’s to their family; Kim, Kari, Kylie and Kristi, who were campers and later became employees and managers. Glen’s passion for education led him to become a David Douglas School District budget committee member and then school board member during his kids’ school years. He spent quite a few years teacher-aiding in the classroom. He also was involved in 4-H, leading groups for Kim & Kari in poultry, electronics and outdoor cooking. Due to property taxes, insurance, and operating expenses, Glen & Joan had to make the difficult decision to close Play Haven and sell their property in 1983. Glen & Joan’s journey took a new course. Joan went from swim education to accounting and computer education. Glen was a natural for the then emerging computer world due to his extensive background in math & science. He played an integral part in helping his son, Kim, get his CPA/Accounting business up and running by developing accounting software for the company. Kim’s business, Wilcox & Company, PC, became a success due in part to the dedication from Glen and he continued working with Kim into his eighties! Glen & Joan reunited with Cynthia and her family. It was a highlight of their life. They were fortunate to have them move to Idaho with their children and become part of their lives. Glen had a love for the outdoors, camping, fishing, golf, bridge, pinochle and especially gardening. Family vacations were always spent camping and fishing in central Oregon at Crane Prairie, a place his brother Charles introduced him to. In his last years at home, he loved his competitions with Kim over who had the “best” tomatoes! During these years, he spent a great deal of time with his grandkids enjoying their ball games, school programs, graduations and weddings. Pictures show him on the floor playing with them, reading to them and teaching them somersaults into the pool!!! Both Glen & Joan moved into a Gresham, Oregon, senior living community in May of 2018. A SPECIAL LIFE WELL LIVED ended November 30, 2019. Glen is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan; brother-in-law Lee Knight(Cathy), son, Kim Wilcox (Mari Jo); daughters, Kari Rohr (John), Kylie Holstrom (Rob) Kristi Wilcox Wilson; grandkids, Heather, Kelsey, Dane, Rand, Hilary, Malena, Greg, Kyle, Ashley, Ryne, Spencer, Mitch, Chet, Custis, Citrina, Cody & Colt, many great-grandkids, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Ethel Wilcox; brothers, Charles Wilcox, Claud Wilcox & Lester Wilcox; sisters, Eva Brosten & Dorris Graves; daughter, Cynthia Sherrer; mother-in-law, Alice Knight. Private burial at Willamette National Cemetery. Celebration of Glen’s Life, Saturday, January 4, 2020, Mt. Scott Church of God’s multipurpose room. 10603 SE Henderson St. Portland, OR 97266 Enter through the side door marked Slavic Christian Academy. The church is located next to PlayHaven Park where Glen & Joan’s swim school and big field were. At 1:00, please join Kim, Kari, Kylie, Kristi & Joan for a quick “camp hike” across the street to PLAYHAVEN PARK—-PLAY HAVEN CAMP’S “BIG FIELD”! We will have a short dedication and camp songs. (Parking is available along the street closer to the park for Joan and others that might need a “shorter hike”!) For those who wish to stay at the church, there will be food, a video, pictures and time to visit with each other. The CELEBRATION OF LIFE will begin at 1:30. Donations can be made to The War on Melanoma Online: www.ohsu.edu/fight-melanoma Choose “War on Skin Cancer” By Mail: Send check to “OHSU-War on Melanoma Foundation” * add in note- In Memory Of Glen Wilcox 1121 SW Salmon St, Portland OR 97205.