Michael Wilcom

Mr. Michael James Wilcom, 72, well-known farmer of Monrovia, died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at the Frederick Memorial Hospital.

He was the husband of Evelyn M. Fogle Wilcom. They married Jan. 19, 1958. Born in Urbana on Oct. 20, 1935, he was a son of the late Charles Francis and Catherine Murphy Wilcom.

He graduated from Saint John's Catholic High School, Class of 1954; and served with the 559th Signal Battalion for eight years, including active duty during the Berlin Crisis in 1961-1962. He was a lifelong dairy farmer in the Monrovia area all of his life and most recently with his two sons.

He was also part-owner with his brothers of the 75-80 Drag-A-Way for more than 45 years. He was a life member of Saint Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, Ijamsville, as well as a charter and life member of the New Market District Volunteer Fire Company. He was also a member and former president of the New Market Lions Club and had been recognized with the Melvin Jones Award.

Mr. Wilcom was a member of the Capital Milk Producers Association for years; the MD-VA Milk Producers Assocaition; was former chairman and a board member of Southern States Cooperative for 35 years; member and past chairman of the Farm Service Advisory Committee; a 50-year member of the Frederick County Farm Bureau where he served as board member and past president; and as a member and former vice-president of the Maryland Farm Bureau. He was a charter member of the Heart of Maryland Tractor Pullers and organized and managed the Tractor Pull at the Great Frederick Fair for more than 30 years.

In addition to his wife, he leaves two sons, Mark Wayne Wilcom and Christopher Scott Wilcom, both of Monrovia; four grandchildren, Marisa Wilcom, Daniel Butler Jr., Joshua Wilcom and Corey Wilson; a great-grandson, Colvin Wilcom; five siblings, Jerome Wilcom and wife, Carol, of Monrovia, William Wilcom and wife, Betty, of Monrovia, Anthony Wilcom and wife, Alice, of Walkersville, Weber Wilcom and wife, Hazel, of Adamstown and Charlotte Miller and husband, John, of Columbus, Ohio; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mike is also remembered by many friends and over the years employed many young boys on the farm and considered them members of the family.

He was preceded in death by one son, Michael J. Wilcom Jr. and one brother, Charles Francis "Tucker" Wilcom Jr.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, from Saint Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 4103 Prices Distillery Road, Ijamsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Michael J. Jendrek. Interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mike Wilcom Farm Bureau Agricultural Scholarship c/o Larry Howard, 6010 Keyser Lane, Frederick, MD 21702; Saint Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 4103 Prices Distillery Road, Ijamsville, MD 21754; New Market District Volunteer Fire Company, Box 113 New Market, MD 21774; or Urbana Volunteer Fire Company, 3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at KeeneyBasford.com.

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