Meryl Raymond Wilcox, son of Willard E. (1865-1940) and Luella Marie (Noyes) (1867-1960), was born 5 May 1907 Vevay Township, Ingham County, Michigan. He graduated from Okemos High School in 1926.
Meryl became an accomplished accountant. He married widow Irene Martha (Bowser) Anderson 15 July 1935, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 10 July 1935
STAFF OF LIBRARY ENTERTAINED HERE
Miss Elizabeth Palm entertained members of the staff of the Lansing public library with a 6:30 o'clock dinner and garden party Tuesday evening to announce the engagement of Mrs. Irene Anderson to Meryl Wilcox. The marriage will take place in the near future.
Meryl also served during World War II in the US Navy.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 25 May 1972
ASSESSOR'S STAFF TO HONOR WILCOX
Meryl R. Wilcox, deputy city assessor since 1950, will be honored by the Lansing Assessor's Office at a retirement party tonight at the Elks Club, 3535 Moores River Dr.
Wilcox, 65, joined the city assessor's staff in 1946 after serving two years in the U.S. Navy in the special recruit training command at Williamsburg, Va.
He was appointed deputy assessor four years later by former City Assessor Lester N. Pressley and continued at the post under City Assessor Gerald E. Ernst.
Born and raised on a farm in Ingham county, Wilcox studied agriculture at Michigan State College in 1927-28 and then enrolled at Ferris Institute in Big Rapids for courses in business administration and accounting. .
Prior to World War , he was employed as a field representative for six years with the J.I. Case Farm Machinery Co. and later joined Nash Kelvinator Corporation in defense work for the U.S. Government before entering the U.S. Navy.
As deputy assessor, Wilcox was in charge of personal property assessment.
A soft-spoken, gentle man, Wilcox said his plans now are to take it easy and devote his time to working on his home and yard at 1634 Berkeley Dr.
"That's my golf and bowling," he commented.
Wilcox and his wife, Irene, former librarian at the East Lansing public library, vacationed in San Francisco and Hawaii in April and visited their son, who is a librarian in San Francisco.
The Lansing City Council Monday night passed a resolution commending Wilcox on is devoted service to the city.
Irene Martha Bower, born 24 February 1902, Emmet County, Michigan, was married to Harlan Firth Anderson. Harlan, a graduate of Michigan State College, was employed as a bridge engineer for the State of Michigan. He and Irene married in 1924. Harlan, born 1900, was killed in an auto accident 4 July 1931.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 5 July 1931
The accident occurred when, according to witnesses, Anderson's car was sideswiped by a light delivery car. Anderson was traveling south and the truck was going north. Merle Boman and Joseph Swantek, both of Grand Rapids, occupants of the truck, were removed to the hospital here. Boman has a broken knee and Swantek suffered cuts about the face.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and their son were taken to the hospital where Mr. Anderson died of a fractured skull early Saturday morning. Mrs. Anderson suffered severe head injuries and their son was badly cut about the body. The mother and son were reported to be in a fair condition Monday.
Irene was a graduate, with high honors, from Michigan State College. During her long librarian career she held positions at Lansing Public Library, The College of William and Mary, the State of Michigan and East Lansing Public Library.
Irene died 29 August 1975, Lansing. Meryl died 24 January 1988, Santa Barbara County, California. Meryl and Irene were interred Deepdale Memorial Park, Eaton County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 3 February 1988
WILCOX, MERYL R.
SANTA BARBARA, CA
FORMERLY OF LANSING
Meryl R. Wilcox, retired Deputy City Assessor for the City of Lansing, died at age 80 on January 24 in Santa Barbara, CA, after a lengthy illness. He was born May 5, 1907 in Vevay Township and lived almost all his life in Ingham County. A Navy veteran in World War II, Mr. Wilcox joined the city after that war and retired in 1972. He was a life member of the Michigan Accountants Association and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lansing for over 35 years. He was also a longtime member of the Plymouth Congregational Church. In late 1986, Mr. Wilcox moved to the Samarkand Retirement Community in Santa Barbara. He was predeceased by his wife, Irene in 1975. His survivors include his stepson, John F. Anderson of Santa Barbara, 2 grandchildren, Douglas F. Anderson of El Cerrito, CA, and Elizabeth Ann Straughan of Carson City, NV; and 2 great grandchildren. Memorial services were held in Santa Barbara with interment in Deepdale Memorial Park, Lansing.