On December 1, 1939, Fred Milton Wilcox was born at the family’s dairy farm in LeRoy Township. He was a son of the late Wilber M. and Dorothy “Leona” (Buck) Wilcox. Fred was a 1958 graduate of Canton High School. He married the former Judy Jenkins on May 5, 1959 in Troy. They shared 56 wonderful years together and raised three children.
Fred was a kind and supportive person who loved his family, their wellbeing always came first. Anyone who knew Fred’s work ethic knew he was never one to shirk from a difficult job. For many years he was employed by Canton’s Bellows Valvair Co. and became a shop foreman.
He later began his own excavating company. Fred had a great respect and admiration for nature and the outdoors. He cared about all animals, whether wild or domesticated and enjoyed fishing and playing golf. He could tinker on most anything.
Surviving are his wife Judy, children; Mark Allan (Lisa) Wilcox of Canton, Kathy (Andrew) Monro of Columbia Cross Roads and Judith Ann (Mike) Camp of Gillett, five grandchildren; Chris Sayman, Desiree Sayman, Nina Sakers, Ashley Petrowski and Shannon Monro, nine great-grandchildren, four siblings; Donna (Gary) Ayres of Granville Summit, Kay Wilcox of Troy, Lloyd (Norma) Wilcox of LeRoy and Stuart (Tanya) Wilcox of Troy, two brothers-in-law; Hal Jenkins of Canton and Woody Jenkins of Georgia, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Rev. Duane Taylor will officiate a memorial service at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at Pepper Funeral Home, 578 Springbrook Dr. Canton. A time of visitation will be 1 2 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be at East Canton Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish may consider a memorial in Fred’s name to a charity of your choice. Share condolences at www.pepperfuneralhomes.com