|
| |
Favorite professor, “The Grammar Hammer,” newspaper faculty advisor, mentor, college pastor, colleague, Dad, Pop, husband, brother, son and servant are the roles James Galen ‘Jim’ Wilcox had during life, but none can fully describe the positive and joyful influence he had on so many. Not many people whistle their way through life, hoot and laugh louder than everyone else, but Jim was known for both and so much more.
Jim was born Sept. 19, 1952 to Galen and Gwen Crawford Wilcox and grew up in San Jose, California where he graduated from high school. He and his twin brother, John, moved to Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho where Jim earned a BA in English. He began a Master of Divinity at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, but said he quit “because he didn’t own enough polyester.” He earned an MA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and also met the love of his life, Linda Patterson, there. He could remember the anniversary of every important event in their relationship; the first time they held hands, their first kiss, and their first “I love you.” He remembered and he always brought a gift. The most important date was November 26, 1977 when they married in the middle of an ice storm that stranded guests who had come to Kansas City from across the country. In 1979, Jim and Linda moved to Oklahoma, and Jim began his 36-year career as an English and journalism professor at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.
Jim and Linda served as college pastors at Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene and Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. He was the faculty sponsor of the SNU chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, and the faculty advisor for 30 years of “The [Reveille] Echo” student newspaper. He was nominated many times for and received the SNU Excellence in Teaching Award and the Faculty Performance Award, recognized by students and his faculty colleagues.
His students and college group members loved him for the joy he showed in life and for the high standards he set for them. He was more than a teacher; he was a friend, confidant, substitute dad and could always be counted on for wise insight and outrageous, irreverent behavior. He was beloved because he never forgot to have fun while living and encouraged the people he knew to take risks in life and to reach for their goals. He showed others what serving Jesus meant. He taught students and colleagues to see the people others missed, to be kind to the poor, to give to those in need and to live life to the fullest and always, loudly.
Jim started laughing up in heaven on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 and leaves behind his wife, Linda to whom he was married for 38 years; two sons, Ben and wife Jennifer Wilcox, Oklahoma City; and Josh and wife Trisha Wilcox, Portland, Oregon; his wonderful grandchildren, Ethan, Ivy and Evan Wilcox; Addison, Carter and Kellen Tabor; his parents, Galen and Gwen Wilcox of Santa Cruz, California; his twin brother, John and wife Debi Wilcox, Santa Cruz, California; his sister, Judi and husband Roger Freels, Denver, Colorado; Linda’s sister, Brenda and husband Gary Godbey, Mount Hope, West Virginia; and Linda’s brother, Roger and wife Becky Patterson, Lewisburg, West Virginia; along with a host of nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held Saturday, May 28 at 2 p.m. at Mayflower Congregational Church, with arrangements by Mercer Adams. The family requests that donations in Jim’s honor be made to 363 at Mayflower, where his legacy can continue as friend to the poor.
If the measure of a person’s life is how much she gave, Linda Norine Patterson Wilcox’s life was very successful. She was cherished by her parents and siblings, adored by her husband, loved by her children and grandchildren, held in high regard by colleagues, appreciated by hundreds of former students, and admired by her friends.
After a long battle with metastatic breast cancer, Linda peacefully passed Monday, April 27, 2020. She was born September 10, 1950 to Akie and Janice Patterson in Asbury, West Virginia. Her family also lived in Charleston, WVA during her childhood. Her siblings and parents were faithful members of Elk River Church of the Nazarene and Alderson Church of the Nazarene. Her parents emphasized the importance of education, honesty and integrity.
Linda earned a bachelor’s of science in education at Trevecca Nazarene University in 1973. She earned a master’s of science in counseling in 1977 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She met the love of her life, Jim - James G. Wilcox, on the grounds of Nazarene International Headquarters while they were in graduate school. They married in 1977 and were happily married for 38 years when Jim died in 2016.
In 1979, Linda and Jim moved to work at Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Okla. Linda directed SNU’s Career Planning and Placement Center. Their children, Benjamin and Joshua, were born in the early 1980’s and by 1986, Linda was taking classes at the University of Oklahoma for a doctor of philosophy.
During the same years, Linda and Jim were the college pastors at Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene and Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. The students they loved and mentored in the groups became friends.
Upon completion of her Ph.D. in social stratification in 1991, she taught part-time at OU for three years, and in 1993, she started a second SNU career as a sociology professor at SNU. She served as sociology department chair, and later, chair of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
In classes in race and ethnicity, social stratification, gender and family, Linda challenged students to broaden their horizons, to travel and develop a worldview. She enjoyed traveling with student groups and emphasized research methods and graduate school preparation. Linda was loved by her students and was a mentor to many. Young people knew Dr. Wilcox was a good listener and counselor. For students who struggled with identity and personal issues, Linda was a safe confidant. She was honored to receive the Excellence in Teaching award, as voted by the student body.
The Wilcoxes spent a sabbatical semester traveling in Europe while she gathered information to write, “No More Front Porches: Rebuilding Community in Our Isolated World,” published in 2002. She was a lifelong reader and loved coffee shops and bookstores.
Jim and Linda adored each other, and their happy times included laughter, work, reading, travel, and serving as hosts for friends or family dinners and student gatherings.
Her happiest times were spent with family, and she looked forward to every visit with her grandchildren. The older grandchildren traveled with Linda and they created wonderful memories during their adventures.
For many years she served on the board of directors for ROC-Reaching Our City, a compassionate ministry and served as deacon at Mayflower Congregational Church, and volunteered with 363, Mayflower Church’s homeless ministry.
Linda is survived by her children: Benjamin and Jennifer Wilcox and their children, Ethan, Ivy and Evan Wilcox, Addison, Carter and Kellen Tabor, Oklahoma City; and Josh and Trisha Wilcox, and their children, Rowan, and a baby on the way, Portland, Oregon; Linda’s siblings, Brenda and Gary Godbey, Mount Hope, West Virginia, Roger and Becky Patterson, Lewisburg, West Virginia, Butch and Vicky Whitt, Bloomfield, Ohio; Jim’s Dad, Galen Wilcox; Jim’s twin, John and Debi Wilcox, Santa Cruz, Calif.; sister, Judy and Roger Freels, Denver, Colo.; and nieces, nephews and other family. Her husband, her parents and brothers, Calvin Patterson and Russell Whitt, preceded her in death.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no public service for Linda. Memorials in Linda’s name can be made to 363 at Mayflower Church, 3901 NW 63rd St. Okla. City, OK 73116 or to ROC, Reaching Our City, 7710 NW 10th St. Okla. City, OK 73127. You can leave a memory or note of sympathy to her family through Mercer-Adams Funeral Service.
“Do me a favor—vote, give money to someone begging on the street, go out of your way to help someone, and laugh, laugh, laugh.” – Linda Wilcox
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.