Arthur Manigault Wilcox

Arthur Manigault Wilcox, retired editor of the Charleston Evening Post and News and Courier and retired rear admiral, U.S. Naval Reserve, entered into eternal rest Monday, October 13, 2014, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at St. Philip's Church. Burial will be in the churchyard. Visitors may call Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Downtown Chapel. Mr. Wilcox was born May 2, 1922, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Rear Adm. John Walter Wilcox and Caroline Manigault Wilcox. He was a graduate of Balboa High School in the Canal Zone and Georgia Institute of Technology. He was married to Katharine McMurray Wilcox for 69 years. He was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy in October 1943 and was assigned to the destroyer USS Ellyson. Shortly thereafter, his ship sailed for the Mediterranean where it engaged the German submarine U-616 and captured its crew. He subsequently participated in the bombardment of German shore batteries in support of the Allied landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day and again in the attack on Cherbourg a few weeks later. His ship then returned to the Mediterranean, where it provided covering fire for Operation Anvil, the Allied invasion of southern France in August 1944. Following its conversion to a destroyer minesweeper, the Ellyson was sent to the Pacific where it participated in the bombardment and assault on Okinawa from March through June 1945. In August, his ship was sent to Tokyo Bay to clear minefields in preparation for the occupation of Japan by U.S. forces. The Ellyson was the first Allied capital ship to enter Tokyo Bay upon the Japanese surrender. After the war, Mr. Wilcox returned to Charleston and joined the news staff of The Charleston Evening Post. He became city editor in 1952. He was named assistant editor of the News and Courier in 1957 and editor of The Charleston Evening Post in 1968. Five years later, he became editor of the News and Courier. He retired in 1990. He served for many years as a member and secretary of the Board of Directors of Evening Post Industries. At the end of World War II, Mr. Wilcox remained in the Naval Reserve. He was commanding officer of the reserve crews of the destroyer escort USS Greenwood and destroyers USS Robinson and USS Soley. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1974 and was commander of Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region 7. He was a member of St. Philip's Church for 70 years and served in many capacities including Sunday School superintendent, warden and vestryman. Mr. Wilcox was actively involved in numerous civic organizations and church affairs. He served in many capacities over the years with the Charleston Museum and was president of its Board of Trustees during the planning and construction of its building on Meeting Street. The descendant of many of the early Huguenot families of Charleston, he was president of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina and an associate member and board member of the Huguenot Church. He was a former trustee of the Historic Charleston Foundation and a member of the Board of Advisors to the Confederate Home and College. He was the longtime registrar of the Society of Colonial Wars, which honored him with the title of Honorary Deputy Governor. He was a member of the St. Cecilia Society, the New England Society, the Carolina Yacht Club, the Charleston Club and the Yeaman's Hall Club. Mr. Wilcox loved history and was an expert on the Civil War. He and Warren Ripley produced the publication "The Civil War in Charleston" for the News and Courier. He read avidly and loved to birdwatch and sail. He was predeceased by his wife and his son, John Walter Wilcox. Surviving are his children, Margaret W. Garrett (Gordon) of Charleston, Arthur M. Wilcox Jr. (Dana) of Coronado, CA, Dr. Priscilla W. Holtzclaw (Jim) of Charleston, and Robert M. Wilcox (Lisa) of Columbia; eleven grandchildren, Elizabeth G. Ryan (Jason), Caroline G. Brouwer (Chad), Gordon H. Garrett, Katharine W. Strahan (Andrew), James R. Wilcox (Brooke), J. Robert Holtzclaw Jr. (Tia), Molly H. Griggs (Kevin), Dr. Arthur W. Holtzclaw (Deb), Edward P. Wilcox, Robert M. Wilcox Jr. and Alexander L. Wilcox; eight great-grandchildren, Iris Ryan, Louise Ryan, Katharine W. Brouwer, Charlotte Griggs, Katharine Griggs, John Griggs, Zoe Holtzclaw and Kostas Holtzclaw; and a sister, Mary W. Horlbeck of Mount Pleasant. Memorials may be made to the Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403 or the Confederate Home and College, 62 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401.