Robert Lyndon Wilcox

1918 - 2008

Dr. Robert Lyndon Wilcox, born August 23, 1918, in Nutley, N.J., to LeRoy Lyndon Wilcox and Edythe Adel Hallenbeck Wilcox, died on Monday, November 10, 2008, at Blount Memorial Hospital. Dr. Wilcox was a retired minister of the Holston Annual Conference, The United Methodist Church. Dr. Wilcox's elementary education was in several small towns in northern New Jersey. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell, N.J., in 1937 and matriculated at Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn., that fall, graduating in 1941 with a B.A. degree and a major in political science as he was planning a career in law.
He served for a short time with the U.S.N.R. after receiving a medical discharge, he worked for the Combustion Engineering Company in Chattanooga until June, 1944.
On April 10, 1942, he and Margaret Kern Hodges of New Market, Tenn., were united in holy matrimony at the New Market Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Wilcox was also a 1941 graduate of Maryville College and a teacher in New Market High School.
Dr. Wilcox had joined the Presbyterian Church in Caldwell, N.J., at the age of 12 and was involved in religious activities there, through his years in college and then in Centenary Methodist Church in Chattanooga which he and Mrs. Wilcox joined in 1943.
Answering the call to preach, Dr. Wilcox enrolled at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga., in June, 1944, graduating in 1946 with a Master of Divinity degree. Mrs. Wilcox taught school in Decatur, Ga., thus supporting her husband's educational pursuits.
Dr. Wilcox joined the Holston Annual Conference of the Methodist Church on trial in October, 1945 and was ordained an elder and received into full connection at the Annual Conference of 1947.
He received his first appointment after graduation from Emory University in 1946, serving as interim minister in Rockford, Tenn., then to the Cleveland Circuit, Tazewell-Midway, Church Street Church Associate, Macedonia, Knoxville, St. John, Maryville, First Church, Chattanooga, Maryville District Superintendent, Senior Minister at Church Street Church, Kingsport District Superintendent, the Holston Conference Board of Pensions as the director of a financial campaign, then as Executive Secretary, closing his ministry as the President of Holston United Methodist Home for Children.
In the year following his retirement at the 1989 session of the Holston Annual Conference, he continued to serve as the President of Holston Home for Children for seven months and as Wytheville District Superintendent for five months.
Returning to their home in Maryville, Dr. Wilcox continued to work for the children's home as the director of a $8.5 million campaign to "Secure the Future" in celebration of the institution's 100th anniversary to be celebrated in 1995.
During his ministry, Dr. Wilcox served as the president of several conference boards. He was an active member of the Boards of Trustees of Emory and Henry, Hiwassee and Tennessee Wesleyan Colleges and for six years chaired the executive committee of the trustees of Tennessee Wesleyan College, serving a portion of that time as the interim president of the college. Dr. Wilcox was an elected delegate to five consecutive General Conferences: 1968 to 1980.
In 1964, Tennessee Wesleyan College conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity on the Rev. Mr. Wilcox.
Dr. Wilcox's parents and his wife of 56 years, Margaret Kern Hodges Wilcox, preceded him in death.
Survivors include special friends, cousins of Mrs. Wilcox, Dr. and Mrs. Robert G. Hewgley Jr., and their son, Michael, of Athens, Tenn., James C. Hewgley and Dr. and Mrs. I.C. Hewgley III, and their sons, Cason and Preston, of Knoxville, Tenn., Delmar and Sandra Champion, and their sons, Raleigh and Dylan, of Alpharetta, Ga.; and special friend, Mrs. Ramelle P. Trundle, of Maryville, Tenn.
Ministers of the Holston Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church are to serve as Honorary Pall Bearers.
Family and friends will meet noon on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, at Sherwood Mausoleum for the entombment service. The family will receive friends at Maryville First United Methodist Church from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday with a 2:30 p.m. memorial service to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Holston United Methodist Home for Children, P.O. Box 188, Greeneville, Tenn. 37744 or to Tennessee Wesleyan College, P.O. Box 40, Athens, Tenn. 37303.
McCammon Ammons Click Funeral Home, Maryville, Tenn., is in charge of arrangements. (865) 982-6812.
www.mccammonammonsclick.com.