Obituary for Judith Ann "Judy" Wilcox (Root)
Kennebunkport, ME
Judith Ann (Root) Wilcox, 85, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday May 1, 2021.
Judy was born October 16, 1935 in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Charles Bertrand Root and Mildred (Granger) Root, and sister to Nancy (Root) Davis and Sandra Jean (Root) Gemmel. Judy attended Russell Elementary School and graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury in 1953. She attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine for two years before marrying US Navy veteran Irv Wilcox, also of Waterbury, and settling in Kennebunkport, Maine.
In her youth, Judy was an active member of the choir and church youth group, Pilgrim Fellowship, of the Second Congregational Church of Waterbury. She started dating Irv at a church dance, sneaking him in as her “cousin.” They later became engaged at a New Year’s Eve dance, married at the church on September 25, 1955 and continued dancing together throughout their marriage of 48 years. Judy developed lifelong friendships with her “PF” group from church and continued to meet up for yearly reunions for over 60 years. Judy also stayed connected to friends from her years at Bates College, sharing many happy times and New Year’s celebrations throughout the years.
Judy had a lifelong passion for singing, starting in the church choir in 5th grade and spent many years as part of the choir of the South Congregational Church of Kennebunkport – her home church of 65 years. Judy’s talent was appreciated at a young age as her elementary teachers would often ask her to sing to calm her class during school air raid drills during World War II. Judy continued performing as a singer throughout her life and spent over 15 years with Sweet Adelines Barbershop Choruses and as a baritone in the quartet, The Pretty Sharps. She also sang in local choral groups and later as part of the a cappella group Women of Note, singing joyfully for over 20 years at many regional events and venues, highlighted by a special invitational performance at the White House during Christmas of 2007.
In addition to singing, Judy had a passion for elementary education, graduating with her education degree from the University of Southern Maine and spending 25 years as a first and second grade teacher in the Lyman School District. Singer Rick Charette visited her first-grade classroom in 1984 and co-wrote the song “Staple in My Sock” with the students that he later recorded on the CD “Alligator in the Elevator.” In retirement, Judy volunteered in the kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Consolidated School in Kennebunkport, enjoying reading her favorite books with students and leading them in singing her favorite songs. Many of her students will remember the song “Little Orange Car” and her love for author Eric Carle and poet Shel Silverstein.
Judy (like her mother, sisters, and children) was a lifelong super fan of the Boston Red Sox, rarely missing the opportunity to watch a game with family and friends. She also had interests in history, art, and travel, fulfilling dreams to visit many national parks including Acadia, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, and Yellowstone. Her travels abroad took her to England and Austria, as well as special trips to Paris and Tuscany, where she fell in love with macarons and cappuccino.
Judy was beloved by many for her joyful and optimistic personality and her love of family and friends. She is survived by her sister Sandra Gemmel, her children and their spouses, sons Stephen Douglas Wilcox and wife Debbie, Scott Granger Wilcox and wife Karla, and daughter Linda Jean (Wilcox) Crawford and husband Scott. She is also lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Christopher Wilcox, Shaun Wilcox, Sarah (Crawford) Hoang and her husband Jonny, Tucker Wilcox, and “adopted” granddaughter Grace Kelly. Judy is also survived by nieces Susan Howe, Anne Batchelder, Joan Peckham, and Beverly Grohs, nephews Neill Gemmel and Fred Wookey Jr., as well as numerous other relatives. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Nancy (Root) Davis, nephews Allen Davis and Robert Wilcox, and her husband Irving Samuel Wilcox.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staffs of Avita of Wells, Beacon Hospice, Spectrum Home Care, and Arcadia New England Home Care for their loving care of Judy during her prolonged illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in her honor to help preserve her favorite places and people – her beloved hometown through donations to the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust PO Box 7004, Cape Porpoise, ME 04014 and her beloved home church, through donations to South Congregational Church, P.O Box 414 - 2 North Street Kennebunkport, Maine 04046.
Private services will be held by the family.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Judith’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
Judith Ann (Root) Wilcox, 85, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday May 1, 2021.
Judy was born October 16, 1935 in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Charles Bertrand Root and Mildred (Granger) Root, and sister to Nancy (Root) Davis and Sandra Jean (Root) Gemmel. Judy attended Russell Elementary School and graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury in 1953. She attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine for two years before marrying US Navy veteran Irv Wilcox, also of Waterbury, and settling in Kennebunkport, Maine.
In her youth, Judy was an active member of the choir and church youth group, Pilgrim Fellowship, of the Second Congregational Church of Waterbury. She started dating Irv at a church dance, sneaking him in as her “cousin.” They later became engaged at a New Year’s Eve dance, married at the church on September 25, 1955 and continued dancing together throughout their marriage of 48 years. Judy developed lifelong friendships with her “PF” group from church and continued to meet up for yearly reunions for over 60 years. Judy also stayed connected to friends from her years at Bates College, sharing many happy times and New Year’s celebrations throughout the years.
Judy had a lifelong passion for singing, starting in the church choir in 5th grade and spent many years as part of the choir of the South Congregational Church of Kennebunkport – her home church of 65 years. Judy’s talent was appreciated at a young age as her elementary teachers would often ask her to sing to calm her class during school air raid drills during World War II. Judy continued performing as a singer throughout her life and spent over 15 years with Sweet Adelines Barbershop Choruses and as a baritone in the quartet, The Pretty Sharps. She also sang in local choral groups and later as part of the a cappella group Women of Note, singing joyfully for over 20 years at many regional events and venues, highlighted by a special invitational performance at the White House during Christmas of 2007.
In addition to singing, Judy had a passion for elementary education, graduating with her education degree from the University of Southern Maine and spending 25 years as a first and second grade teacher in the Lyman School District. Singer Rick Charette visited her first-grade classroom in 1984 and co-wrote the song “Staple in My Sock” with the students that he later recorded on the CD “Alligator in the Elevator.” In retirement, Judy volunteered in the kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Consolidated School in Kennebunkport, enjoying reading her favorite books with students and leading them in singing her favorite songs. Many of her students will remember the song “Little Orange Car” and her love for author Eric Carle and poet Shel Silverstein.
Judy (like her mother, sisters, and children) was a lifelong super fan of the Boston Red Sox, rarely missing the opportunity to watch a game with family and friends. She also had interests in history, art, and travel, fulfilling dreams to visit many national parks including Acadia, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, and Yellowstone. Her travels abroad took her to England and Austria, as well as special trips to Paris and Tuscany, where she fell in love with macarons and cappuccino.
Judy was beloved by many for her joyful and optimistic personality and her love of family and friends. She is survived by her sister Sandra Gemmel, her children and their spouses, sons Stephen Douglas Wilcox and wife Debbie, Scott Granger Wilcox and wife Karla, and daughter Linda Jean (Wilcox) Crawford and husband Scott. She is also lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Christopher Wilcox, Shaun Wilcox, Sarah (Crawford) Hoang and her husband Jonny, Tucker Wilcox, and “adopted” granddaughter Grace Kelly. Judy is also survived by nieces Susan Howe, Anne Batchelder, Joan Peckham, and Beverly Grohs, nephews Neill Gemmel and Fred Wookey Jr., as well as numerous other relatives. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Nancy (Root) Davis, nephews Allen Davis and Robert Wilcox, and her husband Irving Samuel Wilcox.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staffs of Avita of Wells, Beacon Hospice, Spectrum Home Care, and Arcadia New England Home Care for their loving care of Judy during her prolonged illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in her honor to help preserve her favorite places and people – her beloved hometown through donations to the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust PO Box 7004, Cape Porpoise, ME 04014 and her beloved home church, through donations to South Congregational Church, P.O Box 414 - 2 North Street Kennebunkport, Maine 04046.
Private services will be held by the family.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Judith’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.