Marlene Wilcox, age 85, of Paris, TX, passed away on June 27, 2022, in the peace of her home.
She was born to Frank and Ruth Hoy in Findlay OH during the frigid winter of January 1937. She grew up on a farm near Findlay, active in the band and 4H during those years. Marlene graduated from Mt. Blanchard High School as co-valedictorian and continued her education at Ohio State University earning a B.S. in education. She taught language arts to elementary students throughout her teaching career which included Marysville, OH, Baytown, TX and later Parkview Elementary in Baton Rouge, LA. She also earned an M.Ed. from the University of Houston in 1982.
Marlene married Gerald Wilcox, her high school sweetheart; their marriage lasted 51 years, ending with his death in 2009.
Marlene and Gerald moved multiple times because of Gerald’s employment with Exxon. They left Ohio to move to Baytown TX in 1966, later moving to Randolph Township, New Jersey; Baytown; Florham Park, NJ; Baytown again and then finally Baton Rouge, LA where they continued to live after retirement. Marlene moved to Paris, TX 6 years ago, a community that welcomed and embraced her in these last years. She treasured her neighbors and community.
Wherever Marlene lived, she was active in a church. Broadmoor United Methodist Church served as home for the decades that she and Gerald called Baton Rouge home. She was active in the Gumbo Sunday School class, UMW and bereavement committee. She and Gerald were also active supporters of the Baton Rouge Opera Guild. Flooding in 2016 prompted her move to Paris, where she joined Calvary UMC. Prior to the COVID pandemic, she was active in the sewing group, UMW and the Discovery Class.
Marlene is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ruth Hoy, and her husband Gerald Wilcox. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Neal and Allison Wilcox, of Midland, MI; daughter, Celeste Wilcox, of Paris, Texas; grandchildren Johanna Wilcox (Stephen Piasta) of Boston, MA and Connor Wilcox, of Midland, MI; and sister and brother-in-law, Linda and David Robinson of Chevy Chase, MD.
A memorial service will be held July 1, 2022 at Bright-Holland Chapel at 1 pm. Visitation will be at the same location and date beginning at noon. Reverend Beverly Olsen of Calvary UMC will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Broadmoor United Methodist Church (10230 Mollylea Dr., Baton Rouge, LA;
broadmoormethodist.org), Calvary United Methodist Church (3105 Lamar Ave., Paris, TX 75460; cumcparis.org), or the Texas Oncology Foundation (www.texasoncologyfoundation.org/giving).
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
