George R. Wilcox

November 7, 1926 to January 10, 2022

Beloved husband of Micheline "Michelle" (nee Boileau) Wilcox; loving father of Jacques (fiancé Charlene Brenton) Wilcox, Miriam "Mimi" (Michael) Petrie, Michelle (Michael) Schmitz, Richard (Shirley) Wilcox and Brigitte (Bertram) Thomson; cherished grandfather of Nicholle (Chris) Overkamp, Julie (Sean) Smythe, Ryan (Alayna) Petrie, Alex Petrie, Matthew Petrie, Carolyn (BJ) Byers, Laura (Corey) Lubniewski, Allison (fiance Gregory Santoro) Schmitz, Rachel Wilcox, Sarah Wilcox, Nicholas Wilcox, Kevin (Courtney) Thomson, Bryce (Tory) Thomson, Robyn (Justin) Rhymer, Nathaniel Thomson, Autumn Thomson and Caleb Thomson; devoted great-grandfather of Jay Byers, Howard Smythe, Sawyer Rhymer and Beckham Rhymer; loving son of the late Howard and Miriam (nee Eggert) Wilcox; dear brother of the late Miriam (late Arthur) Haefner, Howard (late Joanne) Wilcox, Alice (late James) Keyser, Florence (late William) Lynch, Paul (late Rosemary) Wilcox, Ann (late Arthur) Haefner, David (late Joan) Wilcox, John (late Grace) Wilcox, Mary Lou (D. Anthony) McElroy and Marjorie (late A. Daniel) Mahony.

The family will be present to receive friends Sunday, January 16th from 7-9 PM at BEACH-TUYN FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5541 Main Street (at Cayuga Rd ) Williamsville. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Monday morning, January 17th, at 9:30 AM in SS Peter and Paul Church, Williamsville. Please assemble at church.

***Masks are required at the funeral home and church***

Military Service WWII

Army Air Corp – branch of the military (Army Air Corp was before Air Force)

volunteered at age 18

received B-29 flight engineer training

served as a flight engineer on the C-46D Curtiss Commando

When stationed in Okinawa, Japan his unit was there to maintain peace. He was there to service the planes.

General Douglas MacArthur plane was parked next to George’s plane and George was ordered to stand watch over MacArthur’s plane so it would not be sabotaged.

There is a humorous story of frozen strawberries with a shipping label to Mrs. MacArthur. Needless to say, the strawberries melted all over the runway and never made it to her.

Post war military – George was part of the “Bully Beef Express”. His mission was to provide food, clothing and military supplies of all kind to wherever they were needed.

After the war

George attended Bennett High School to complete his education and receive his High School diploma.

He was employed at Bell Aircraft in Niagara Falls, NY.

During this time his large family moved from the city of Buffalo to the Shimerville house, the former Brookfield Country Club house.

He was offered a carpentry position and found the passion of his life.

During his Shimerville years, he met his bride Michelle in Florida, a beautiful French-Canadian girl with an adorable accent. They were married in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They lived in Williamsville, NY all of their married life where they raised a family of five children.

After 20 years of carpentry, he went into business for himself. He was highly skilled, well respected and very successful.

Cottage years at Conesus Lake

Memories include; cows in the field with cow bells that were heard in the early morning, fishing late at night, trolling for walleye, out door grilling, the dock, the fireworks, steak and corn on the cob each week end.

Hobbies in retirement

George retired early and enjoyed every day. His hobbies included; refinishing antiques, gold leaf stenciling, learning caning, RC model planes – the older the model the better he liked them. He built his own RC models and enjoyed flying them with his friends.

RC Pulsars of Western New York

Buffalo Aero Club of Western New York

Belonged to the National Clock Association and the local chapter -13 from Western New York

Finding old clocks in disrepair restoring the inner works. Each clock has its own unique history. Their home was filled with many clocks, always with the sound of “tic toc”.

He was happiest when working with his hands, using his mind to research the details of each piece he restored. The piece came to life.

Everywhere you look in their home, “the barn”, there was something he created, the furniture, the clocks with dials he drew himself, all done to perfection.

In his elder years, Butch was known for walking daily on Main Street in Williamsville. Thursday night was live music at Sorrentino’s. Everyone knew him and always a free beer.