Helena Marguerita Wilcox (Rita) was a force of nature from the day she was born, February 16,1930. Growing up in Parsons Kansas, she loved animals, nature, art, and especially music. As a schoolgirl, Rita raised chickens to buy a bicycle. When she had enough money, her Dad asked if she wanted a bike or violin lessons. She chose violin lessons, and as a result, walked all over town. She graduated high school a year early, then attended Iowa State University, graduating with a Music major, Art minor, and masters in Music.
Rita began her career teaching art in Yuma, Arizona, where she was concertmaster of the community orchestra. But true to her calling to gift music to all, she volunteered teaching strings before and after school until they hired a full time string teacher. Her superintendent thought her too good an art teacher to loose to music, so he lost her to music in Stockton, where she taught music in SUSD for 34 years, and Suzuki violin at Delta College. After hours she taught music lessons, played in the Stockton Symphony, and performed for many events. She gave her time and talents freely, bartering with parents of under privileged students in exchange for music lessons, fundraising so her students could go on tour, giving students rides to school and concerts, building feeder programs on her own time to ensure the high school orchestras would thrive, and taking her students to competitions where they won many awards. After retiring from the Symphony, Rita founded the Valley Community Orchestra (VCO), and played in it until Fall 2022. Her passion enriched the lives of many students and fellow musicians. In 2007, the Stockton Arts Commission honored Rita for her Outstanding Achievement in Music Education.
Rita died February 22, 2023, of congestive heart failure; she was 93. Rita was preceded in death by her daughter Marguerita (Margie) Long, and son Charles Wilcox, and is survived by daughter Patty Doty, grandchildren Del Phoenix-Wilcox, Amanda Long, Stephanie Long-Turner and Beca Doty, and great-grandson Liam Wilcox (with another great-grandchild on the way).
In lieu of flowers , please make donations to the VCO, mailing them to “Treasurer, VCO, 118 South Sunset Drive, Lodi, CA, 95240.”
A “final retirement” celebration will be held at 2:00 PM April 1 at the Delta Pavilion in Micke Grove Regional Park (11793 N. Micke Grove Rd., Lodi, California 95240). There will be a $6.00 charge at the park entrance for parking (and more for oversized vehicles). You will need to drive past the zoo and Fun Town to the far end of the park to find the Delta Pavilion, so carpool and come early. Please bring finger food or snacks to share along with memories after the memorial service. All whose lives were touched by Rita are welcome to attend.
