Don G. Wilcox, 88, of Northport, Mich., passed away at his home on May 27, 2024, surrounded by family.
He was born March 13,1936, in Shattuck, Okla. and grew up in Wewoka and Chickasha, Okla.
On Sept. 1, 1956, he married his college sweetheart, Kaye Jean Leighton from the Old Mission Peninsula in northern Michigan. They started married life in Ann Arbor, Mich. while still in college. They first lived in Mojave, Calif., followed by moves to other cities in California as his career took off. All four children were born while in California. The family moved to Wichita, Kan., then to Morgantown. Summers were always spent in Northport, Mich., where they have lived since retirement.
He had many interests and skills, some surprising in the life of a musician. He always loved cars, motorcycles and anything fast. He had a wicked competitive streak that was evident in motocross and autocross racing, racquetball and anything involving scores and trophies. He set the fastest qualifying time of day for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, stunning the factory teams. He was a sailor, scuba diver, adventurer extraordinaire and had fun stories about his broad variety of experiences. He wrote about these in several books of “Tall Tales for My Grandchildren.”
He never did anything halfway. He spent a lifetime going after “personal best.” He liked to win, and he was classy. He’d be nice about it, but he was going to beat you. If he wanted to do something, he found a way to do it. When invited to teach at Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, of course he learned to speak Japanese. When he bought a sailboat, he learned how to sail it. He taught himself to scuba dive. He built a rock retaining wall for the Northport cabin. He raced at speeds over 200 mph in an Indy car and survived a crash in one at over 160 mph.
Don spent a lifetime in music education and was internationally recognized as an outstanding musician and educator, receiving so many awards, commendations, accolades and honors that they could not possibly be listed here. He was elected into the American Bandmasters Association and proudly served a term as president. He was inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame in 2023. He was proud of having conducted groups “in the Kennedy Center, all 50 states and in 31 foreign countries on four continents.” (He always knew the exact numbers.)
In 2004, after 37 years, he retired from his position as Director of Bands at West Virginia University. He flunked retirement and went on to direct the Northport Community Band, to the local community’s delight. Don is leaving an extensive legacy of musicianship and teaching that will last for generations. He was universally admired and loved throughout his life and career.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Kaye Jean; three daughters, Laurey (Dan) Richmond, of Frederick, Md., Lisa (Kevin) Hughes, of Cincinnati, Lynelle (Darin) Wilcox-Irvine, of Northport, Mich.; and son, Lee (Michele) Wilcox, of Morgantown; step-sister, Vicki (Roger) Zobisch Cundiff, of Alexandria, Va.; 12 grandchildren, Marc (Sophie) Richmond, of Frederick, Md., Cathryn Richmond, of Burlington, N.J., Brian (Steph) Hughes, of Columbus, Ohio, Shane Hughes, of New York, Kelsey Hughes, of Minneapolis, Alex Thelander, of Suttons Bay, Mich., Liam Thelander, of Suttons Bay, Mich., McGuire (Erica) Irvine, of Albuquerque, N.M., Owen Irvine, of Northport, Mich., Trevor Wilcox, of Morgantown, Alexis Wilcox, of Morgantown, Chase Wilcox, of Morgantown. A great-grandchild is expected in October. He is also survived by cousins in Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas and Louisiana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Wilcox and Lois Zobisch Wilcox and stepfather, Victor Zobisch.
Don’s family welcomes the community to an open house at the Wilcox family home from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 to celebrate his life. A celebration of Don’s life for this upcoming fall in Morgantown will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the Wilcox family asks that memorials in his honor may be directed to the Don Wilcox Music Education Fund, where proceeds are dedicated to providing support (lessons, music camp, instruments and music) for student musicians in Leelanau County. For more information, please refer to:
www.martinson.info
Or you may also donate to the Don Wilcox Scholarship Funds of your choice in West Virginia.
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.
Condolences:
www.martinson.info
