Patricia Ann "Pat" Wilcomb

1927 - 2023

Boise - Boise - Patricia Ann Wilcomb (January 3, 1927 - June 2, 2023)

Patricia Ann Wilcomb passed away, after a short illness, peacefully at home surrounded by family on June 2, 2023. She was 96 years young. Pat had a beautiful soul filled with poise, grace and laughter. She always saw the best in everyone who knew her and brightened many lives with her songs and music.

Pat was born in Boise, Idaho at St. Luke's Hospital on January 3, 1927, to J. Cecil and Pauline Jordan. She grew up in Boise's North End attending Longfellow Elementary School, North Junior High and graduating from Boise High School.

From an early age, Pat showed an exceptional singing ability. She said her voice came from her father who had a loud booming voice that, according to Pauline, carried nearly five miles. In grade school Pat sang solos and acted in fairy tale plays. She always hoped to play the princess, but was inevitably cast as a witch or old hag because her teachers said she was a natural character actress.

Pat attended the University of Oregon to study voice and opera. During her two years at the U of O, she was a lead vocalist in several campus musicals and operas. She was a member of the Tri Delta Sorority.

Pat continued her musical path and her affiliation in the Tri Delta Sorority to the University of Idaho where she followed her love of music, as well as the love of her life, her high school sweetheart Dick Wilcomb. After graduating from the University of Idaho, Pat and Dick moved back to Boise where they were married in 1948, a marriage that lasted over 60 years until Dick's death in 2010. Together they became part of Jordan-Wilcomb Construction, a firm that her grandfather started in 1910 and a firm that continues today with her son, grandsons, and family.

In the 1950s Pat became a mother to her three children--Marlee, Tim and Tricia, while also becoming one of Boise's greatest advocates for various non-profit organizations like the Junior League, the Boise Symphony Board, Boise Philharmonic Board, Meals-on-Wheels, the Boise Art Gallery, All Saints Episcopal Church Choir, the national organization of the Tri Delta Sorority, and the Boise Opera Board (with her dear friend Esther Simplot).

In the early 1960s Pat was asked to travel to New York to produce a vocal album; however, her love of her family and children took priority, so she declined. Her children's and grandchildren's fondest memories include the times they sat quietly in her lap as she softly sang some of her favorite tunes.

Pat's love of music and performance found a home in many of Boise's musical productions, especially those produced by the late Ken Hartzler. She played leading, as well as supportive roles, such as: Ado Annie in "Oklahoma", Tuptim in "The King and I", Maria in the "Sound of Music", Nancy in "Oliver" and Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific".

Pat got so involved in her characters that for "South Pacific" she bleached her dark hair to make it blonde, but it turned bright orange...Friends refused to walk with her until it grew out. In "Oliver" she sang the lead role of Nancy, who smoked a cigar. So, Pat bought the biggest horrid-smelling dimestore cigar and practiced smoking while singing around the house--much to her children's disgust and amusement.

Pat was loyal to her friends, laughed easily, loved to garden and be at McCall with her family. She also loved to travel with Dick around the world. Together they had many adventures. When Dick (a former smokejumper) turned 80 he was going to tandem skydive from a plane. Pat, not to be left behind, decided to also jump saying that they did things together. Pat had boundless energy and used to say that she tried to accomplish "10 impossible things" each day when she was younger, but after age 90 she could only manage two or three.

Pat is preceded in death by her parents J. Cecil and Pauline Jordan, beloved husband Dick Wilcomb, her brother Rich Jordan, and her grandson Cooper Wilcomb. She is survived by her children Marlee Wilcomb, Tim Wilcomb (Mary), Tricia Holt (Brad); grandchildren Dylan Holt (Shonti Breisch), Cameron Holt, T.J. Wilcomb (Katie), Cecil Wilcomb (Lauren Henken); great-grandsons Hayes and Finn Wilcomb; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the many friends and caretakers who supported Pat throughout her final years, especially Linda and Dawn at Touchmark living center in Meridian. A private family celebration will take place later this summer. Pat did not wish to have a public memorial gathering.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Opera Idaho, the Treasure Valley Family YMCA Cooper Wilcomb Fund at the Idaho Community Foundation, or a favorite charity of your choice.

May your souls be filled with music and laughter!