Lois Eileen (Hertle) Wilcox was a Teacher. She served many roles during her amazing life: daughter, sister, loyal friend, wife, aunt, mother, and grandmother. But throughout, by all definitions, she was a Teacher.

Born on February 23, 1945 to her parents Ralph and Manetta Hertle, Eileen was a model student with a sterling scholastic record. Inside the classroom it was all straight-A’s, outside the classroom she was, among many other things, a varsity cheerleader and Prom Queen. Graduating from Gaston High School in 1963, she followed the example set by her older brother Robert (Joretta) Hertle and set the bar high for her younger brother Gerald (Debbie) Hertle. Eileen was preceded in death by her younger sister Beth Ann, who died in a traffic accident in 1956.

Eileen continued to excel academically after graduation, enrolling at Ball State University on full academic scholarship and graduating in1967 with honors and a degree in Education, setting the stage for a life’s work in shaping the lives of others. She went on to earn a Masters degree from that same university, all while getting married, starting a family and establishing a home in Muncie, IN.

She embarked on one of her most important teaching roles when she had her first son, Jeff Wilcox (Anderson, IN) in 1966, followed by her second son, Doug (Jeriann) Wilcox (Zionsville, IN) in 1969. Eileen educated them in right from wrong, responsibility, manners, etiquette, respect for others and respect for themselves, while still making sure that they both knew their alphabet and how to count to 100 before they entered kindergarten. Most of their early birthday gifts were not toys, but books–and socks….her boys always had plenty of socks.

Eileen did her best to spoil rotten her two grandchildren, Joel (Dawnyl) Wilcox (Indianapolis, IN) and Cassandra Wilcox (Orlando, FL) and to teach them what being a cool Grandma (“Grammi”) was all about.

And she was a Teacher, affecting thousands of young lives during a 35-year career as an elementary and middle school English teacher throughout central Indiana. She started her career in her hometown teaching a first-grade class at Gaston Elementary school, eventually taking other positions at Delta Middle School and Centerville Elementary.  Everywhere she went, she not only schooled her students in proper grammar and reading the classics, but how to be the life of the party during countless school dances, pep sessions and morning announcements. She also served as Principal of Loper Elementary School in Shelbyville, IN before returning to the classroom doing what she did best…being a Teacher.

Eileen finished her career while at Sugar Creek Elementary School in New Palestine, IN.

Even in retirement, she showed others how to live life to the fullest, joined by her life partner and loving fiancé Tom Armstrong. Whether it was singing boogie-woogie tunes as part of her chorus group in Parish, FL or long walks with her beloved dog Cooper, she remained active, young and vibrant well into her golden years.

In the end, Eileen taught her family and friends how to face adversity with dignity, courage, grace, determination and a ceaseless sense of humor during a long battle with cancer. On November 5th, 2018, she taught us all what it means to love and be loved, as she passed away peacefully at her home in Anderson, IN surrounded by her family.

It may not be possible to describe such a long and fulfilled life with just a single word, but for Eileen Wilcox—“Teacher” comes pretty darn close.

There will be a Celebration of Life gathering at her home for close friends and family.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations made to the Humane Society for Hamilton County (IN) or St. Judes Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.