Yuriko Willcox

CENTERVILLE -Yuriko "Yuri" Matsumoto Willcox, 94, a longtime resident of Piqua, more recently of Centerville, died at 5:04 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Austin Trace Health and Rehabilitation in Centerville. She was born September 8, 1928, in Atlantic City, New Jersey to the late Hidejiro and Kiyoko Matsumoto of Japan. She married Jack G. Willcox December 20, 1948, in Piqua, he preceded her in death.

Survivors include Wayne (Randi) Willcox of Richmond Hill, Georgia, Michael (Edith) Willcox of Farragut, Tennessee, William Wendell (Leslie) Willcox of Anderson, South Carolina, Bruce (Helen) Willcox of Piqua; a daughter, Rebecca Wyse of Visalia, California; ten grandchildren, Chris, Michael, Jill (Angelo), Jeannie (Scott), Kate (Andrew), Morgan, John, Laura, Nick, Nicole (Sam), Steve (Sarah), Kristin (Jeremy); nine great grandchildren, Kyle, Aaliyah, Marko, Chloe, Gillian, Alice, Madelyn, Grace, Jameson, Kelsey, Logan, Kettler; and many friends and students who blessed Yuri with a life of love and joy over many years.

Mrs. Willcox began her formal education at the Atlantic City Friends School, then Mizuho Gakeun, followed by graduation from Seijo Girls' High School, Tokyo, Japan in March 1946. From Miami University in Oxford, the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Education, magna cum laude, and Master of Education were earned years later thanks to strong support and help from Jack and their four boys.

Yuri worked with the Occupational Forces, United States Eighth Army War Crimes and Defense Divisions of the Judge Advocate Section in Yokohama, Japan. Additionally, she served as an Ohio Delegate to the Carter Mondale Administration. Years later, she was an elementary teacher, principal and Director of Elementary Instruction with the Piqua City Schools from which she retired in 1993.

Active in education and community organizations, Yuri was elected president of both the Piqua Education Association and the Western Ohio Education Associations. She served on the boards of the Nation Education Association, Ohio Education Association, the Appalachia Educational Laboratory, Piqua Area United Way, Miami County Juvenile Court Advisory Board and the Dayton Chapter Japanese-American Citizens League (JACL). Appointments to the Ohio Department of Education Teacher Certification Advisory Committee, the Piqua Community Foundation Distribution Committee and involvement with the Ohio Department of Education, IBM, and local school districts and industries followed.

To foster mutual understanding and appreciation between Americans and the Japanese, assisting Japanese students in Ohio elementary and secondary schools became a commitment continued long after retirement. Worship at St. James Episcopal Church in Piqua and Saint George's Episcopal Church in Dayton sustained Christian focus in her daily life.

For the convenience of family and friends, memorial services will be offered at St. George's Episcopal Church, 5525 Far Hills Ave., Dayton, at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2023, with Rector Benjamin T. S. Phillips as the Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Piqua Education Foundation P.O. Box 201 Piqua, OH 45356 or Crossroads Hospice

10810 E. 45th Street, Suite 300 Tulsa, OK 74146. Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com.