Obituary of Irwin Wilcox

Irwin P. "Rupe" Wilcox, age 85, the beloved husband of Bonnie Ann (Sanders) Johnson Wilcox passed away on Sunday evening, Feb.19th at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. He was born on June 26, 1926 in Old Saybrook the son of Rupurt Tisbury and Elsie May (Tryon) Wilcox. Rupe has been a resident of Deep River since 1952. He was a field supervisor for the Connecticut Light and Power Company retiring in 1985 following 35 years of service. Rupe loved his community and surrounding communities of the Lower Connecticut River Valley and had served as President of the Deep River Ambulance Association, President of the Valley Shore Ambulance and Communication Association, member of the Deep River Fire Department serving as Chief from 1968-1971, member of the Middlesex County Fire Chief's Association. In 1968 he organized the Valley Fire Chief's Association and served as its President from 1968-1973 and during that five year period he was a member of the International Fire Chief's Association. He was a member of the Deep River Planning and Zoning Commission for 12 years, member and former Vice-Chairman of the Connecticut River Gateway Commission, Past Vice-Chairman of the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency. Rupe was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed water fouling and fishing. He also loved gardening, the New York Yankees and the UCONN Lady Husky basketball program. He served proudly during WWII as a member of the United States Navy. Besides his beloved wife Bonnie he leaves his children, Kathy Trumbull and her husband John, of NH, Karen Lane and her husband Nate, of Moodus, Donald Johnson and his wife Gwen, of Ivoryton, Sharon Graves and her husband Larry, of Higganum, Bettyann Rembisz and her husband Peter of Killingworth, his grandchildren, Alex Wilcox of Moodus, Caitlin Johnson of Ivoryton, Adam Rembisz and his wife Nicole, of NH, and Timothy Graves and his wife Kate, of Higganum. He was predeceased by his first wife Elizabeth (Budney) Wilcox. Visitation will be held at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook on Friday, February 24th from 5-7:00PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 25th at 10:00AM at the All Saints Episcopal Church, 129 Main Street in Ivoryton. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow in the Riverside Cemetery, Sheffield Street in Old Saybrook. In lieu of flowers memorial contribution may be made to the Deep River Fire Department, 57 Union St., the Deep River Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 274, Deep River, CT 06417 or to All Saints Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 576, Ivoryton, CT 06442.