Margaret Kneif Wilcox

Margaret Kneif Wilcox, 99, departed this life Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at Hillside Villa in Arroyo Grande, Calif., where she had been cared for lovingly and faithfully her last five years.

She was born Jan. 6, 1913, in Taft, Calif., to Fred and Myrtle Kneif. The family spent her childhood years moving around the California oilfields. She graduated from UC Berkeley and earned her teaching credential at LA Teachers College and went on to teach third grade and junior high art in Maricopa, Calif.

On a YMCA sponsored trip to South America she met John Baird Wilcox. After a brief courtship they were married in Ventura on Dec. 23, 1940, and celebrated 63 years of marriage until his death in 2004. Margaret chose to become a full-time homemaker and devoted herself to child-rearing and caring for others in her community. She and John raised their five children at Saticoy Community Church. They went on to serve 30 years with Bible Fellowship Church where she joyfully cared for children in the nursery, prepared meals for youth group and prayed regularly for missionary families. She was active in Bible Study Fellowship and then Community Bible Study over a period of 36 years.

Wherever she served she brought beauty as she shared her creative gifts in cooking, gardening, sewing and the visual arts. She was an avid reader and loved crosswords. Self-effacing, witty and a great listener, she was a joy to be around.

She is survived by her four daughters, Margaret (Rob) Frost, Ann (Wayne) Malarich, Louise Adaikkalam and Liz (Step) Stepanian, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth Lovelace of Bakersfield; her husband, John; and her son, John Mark of Petaluma. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, Forest Lawn, Glendale.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, at Bible Fellowship Church, 6950 Ralston Street, Ventura 93003.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to a charity of your choice.