North Augusta, SC - Wayland Edward Wilcox, 83, beloved husband of Dorothy Elizabeth Sumner Wilcox, passed away peacefully at the NHC Nursing Home in North Augusta, SC on Monday, September 27, 2021, following an extended illness. A memorial service will be held Saturday afternoon, October 30, 2021, at 1 o’clock in the United Church of Oxford, 25 Main St., Oxford, NY with Rev. Doug Satterlee officiating. Interment will follow at the Riverview Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
Wayland was born in Oxford, NY and was the son of the late Julian Jay Wilcox and Ethel Ruth Foote Wilcox. He was Oxford Academy’s valedictorian of the class of 1956. He received a NROTC scholarship and attended Cornell University, played trumpet in the Big Red Band and received his commission in the United States Navy in 1960. He retired as a Commander after serving for 26 years as a naval aviator, including serving in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. After retirement from the U.S. Navy, he returned to college, attending Pennsylvania State University, and earned a degree in agricultural economics. He was a passionate supporter of PSU, attending athletic events and representing the University at college fairs.
Mr. Wilcox was raised in the Congregational Church and a member of Presbyterian churches wherever he lived, most notably the Roswell (Georgia) Presbyterian Church, where he was a long time member of the choir and brass ensemble. He volunteered through Junior Achievement where he mentored and taught students to succeed in economics.
He was preceded in death by a brother Julian Wilcox, Jr.
Surviving in addition to his wife are children, Sherrill Edward (Karen) Wilcox of North Augusta, SC and Shirley Elizabeth (Kevin) Cooke of Princeton, NJ; and grandsons, Austen (Hillary) Wilcox, Garrison (Jennifer) Wilcox and Duncan (Lindsey) Cooke; his brothers Duane (Nanette) Wilcox of Sherburne, NY, Francis Wilcox and Lawrence (Suzanne) Wilcox, both of Oxford, NY; his sister-in-law, Virginia Wilcox of Walton, NY; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Due to Wayland’s devoted support of veterans, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org or USO at www.uso.org.