https://desertsun.com/obituaries/pds031474
1948-2023
In a life committed to a passion for public service through law enforcement and a deep love for his family, John Wilcox passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, May 15 of natural causes, he was 74.
His interest in police work has its roots to his childhood and early teens as he watched such crime television series as Dragnet and Adam 12. He finally achieved his dream in the late 1970s when he graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy. He went on to serve several law enforcement agencies in both Southern California and Southern Oregon.
Born John Albert Wilcox on December 22, 1948 to Robert, an aerospace executive and Betty (Graham) Wilcox, a homemaker, at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California.
In 1952, Wilcox and his older sister Nancy, moved from Westwood, California, with the family, to the Midwest, when the elder Wilcox was transferred by his employer, Douglas in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They lived there until moving back to Los Angeles in 1961 where they resided in the San Fernando Valley.
Wilcox attended LAUSD schools, graduating from Granda Hills High in 1968. He then attended Valley State college, which is now Cal State University, Northridge (CSUN) with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1972. He work as a mover for Mayflower Moving and Storage after graduating from college.
In 1974, he married his college sweetheart, Joanne Moldenhauer, moving to North Hollywood, California.
In 1976, Wilcox graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy and joined the California State Police. He stationed at his old alma-matter, CSUN as a Deputy.
In 1977, the Wilcox’s decided to leave Los Angeles for the greener and slower Southern Oregon, settling in the City of Medford. Wilcox then joined the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, working as a Deputy in the jail. On March 6, 1979, the Wilcox’s welcomed their first son, Matthew Robert, and a second son. John Karl on February 14, 1981.
The couple divorced shortly after and Wilcox moved to Southern California in 1984, where he joined the Simi Valley Police Department as an Officer. He held many roles in the department and retired in 2010 as a Sargent.
Wilcox married Wendy Whitlock in 1987 and they welcomed a son, Robert Michael on November 27, 1988. The couple was later divorced.
Despite the divorces, Wilcox kept close friendships with both Joanne and Wendy. He was always committed to giving his kids all his free time. Wilcox usually took 6 weeks off each summer to spend time with his 3 boys and was best known to his family and friends for his humor and practical jokes.
During his retirement, Wilcox split his time between his home on a golf course in Palm Desert, California and his 80 acres of land, that he turned from bare land to his home on the hill, in Medford, Oregon. He is survived by his sister Nancy (Tim) and brother Rob, sons Matt (Misty), John (Marcy), Robert (Charisse) and six grandchildren, Damien, Grant, Hadley, Lucas, Mason and Sienna.
John was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
Per John Wilcox’s request no funeral service will be held.
Posted online on May 25, 2023
Published in The Desert Sun