James Otis “Odie” Wilcox of Hermiston died on Aug. 16, 2018 in Hermiston at the age of 83.
He was born on April 23, 1935 in Heppner to Charles Bennett Wilcox and Tressie Venus Allstott Wilcox.
Odie from the earliest of years loved fishing and hunting, and he understood both like an art that he practiced nearly his entire life. He was an athletic, active, and social person who seemed to know no stranger. He spent nearly his entire life raised and raising his own family in Hermiston. He was active in sports in Hermiston Union High School, which later became Armand Larive Middle School. He enjoyed football and basketball, but his true love was boxing.
After high school he enlisted in the Air Force, became a mechanic technician and spent much of his enlistment in Alaska. Following his enlistment, he returned home and met Glenda Parsons. They soon married and shared 58 years together. Within 13 months of marriage they had their firstborn, Pamela Jean, followed by twin brothers a short 13 months after her, James Eric and Robert Otis. Of course, hunting and fishing would also play a large part of their lives, thus continuing a family tradition of love of the land, nature and self-sufficiency.
Odie worked for the city of Hermiston Water Department for over 30 years and also was a volunteer fireman for nearly as long. He also enjoyed horseshoe pitching and was instrumental in the formation of the club in Hermiston. He also bowled league for many years. He and Glenda traveled to the out-of-town tournaments together for both of these interests. Yard sales were their form of date night, trying to find bargains and interesting antiques or whatever struck their fancy. Odie loved to search out old home sites and snoop through them to find little treasures. In his last few years he began to suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease, which slowly robbed him of even the memories of his best fishing stories and the friends he had known and loved.
Odie is survived by his wife, Glenda Parsons Wilcox; daughter, Pamela (Creigh) Lincoln of Hermiston; sons, Eric (Daphne) Wilcox of Dufur and Robert (Marie) Wilcox of Huntington; 10 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; sister; Patricia (Marvin) Kennedy; and sister-in-law, Gloria (Aragon) Wilcox.
He was preceded in death by his older beloved brother, Robert Wilcox, and his parents, Charles and Tressie Wilcox.
There will be a private family gathering at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
