Melba Jean Wilcox

Melba Jean Grant Wilcox peacefully and joyfully went to heaven on October 23, 2025. She was born in Malvern, Arkansas on January 16, 1936, and was the youngest of 13 children of Walter Cleveland Grant and Annie Elmirie Ballard. Her father was a farmer and carpenter and supported his family and the entire community during the hard times of World War II. Her father died when she was seven and her mother soon after.

She married Carl Doyce Wilcox on June 6, 1951, and supported her husband and family as he honorably served his country in the United States Air Force for 22 years. During their USAF career together, her family was never separated and experienced five overseas tours.

She raised three children in a multi-cultural world and shared the globe with her family. Her husband and children supported each other as a unit and always had each other’s back. When asked how she accomplished a strong family bond and all the moving, she said, “We experienced all the small things in a big way.”

Her overseas adventures began in Morocco; then it was off to Thailand for two separate tours; the Philippines (Clark AFB), Sangley Point (NAS), Manila Bay; and the Azores, Portugal. She also lived in Massachusetts, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas, and Oklahoma throughout her life as an Air Force wife.

With Carl, she began a lifelong love of Square Dancing in Morocco that continued everywhere they lived. After retiring from the USAF, they moved home to Malvern, Arkansas and she supported her husband as he continued serving others as a Tax Assessor for Hot Spring County Arkansas. They traveled the US, including a RV trip from Arkansas to Alaska with two of her grandchildren.

They moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas, to be closer to Little Rock Air Force Base. They began going to the base gym 5-6 days a week. They became “retiree ambassadors” for the base gym. At the age of 75, She ran in her first 5 K race as a part of the “Women Can Run” program.

Her husband and love of her life passed away in October 2018. Her adventures continued as she moved to Slovenia and experienced the beauty of Europe for almost 2 years.

Melba Jean was a prayer warrior and lived a rich full life. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews all the way!

Preceding her in death, along with her parents, are her husband, Carl Doyce Wilcox; and her siblings, Mary Susan Irene Grant Robinson Tugwell (Louis, Woodrow), Hiram Benjamin Grant (Audra Mae, Juanita) Jim Sam Grant (Marion), Grayson Carson Grant (Hazel), Bradford Grant (Chlodine), Blanche Grant Roland Thomsen (Dennis, Keith), Hattie Bee Grant Raulston (Lester), Mattie Lee Grant, Eloise Grant Burnett (Jewel) Walter Cleveland Grant Jr. (Carolyn), Albert Dennis Grant (Ruth), Bytha Lou Grant.

She is survived by her children, Carla Melinda Wilcox Garner (David), Julia Annette Wilcox Stanley (Doug Allen), Douglas Darrel Wilcox (Mary); grandchildren, P.J. James, Chris James, Joseph Garner (Chelsea), Clint Stanley (Corri), Cameron Stanley (Daphne), Carl Stanley (Crystal), DJ Allen, Kaylyn Ladner (Cody McDonald), Daniel Wilcox, Jennifer Lough (Nathan), Mike Smith (Olivia), Crystal Galyon (Brian Hulen), Dakota Smith (Rachel Ahn); great grandchildren, Shariah James, Mariam James, Layla James, Jaelin James, Prestin James, Austin Farnbach, Zeruiah Garner, Zipporah Garner, Hadassah Garner, Sapphira Garner, Manasseh Garner, Emilie Lough, Abe Smith, Trevor Smith, Jordan Smith, Makayla Galyon, Matt Galyon, Alex Hulen, Asa Stanley, Everett Stanley, Imrick Stanley, Orissa Stanley, Jayce Allen, Kempton Allen, Bentley McDonald, River McDonald; and sister-in-law, Modine Wilcox Pawlak.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Young's Chapel with Rev. Joseph Garner officiating. Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2025 at the Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons International, Arkansas State Association, Union County Camp, P.O. Box 10562, El Dorado, AR, or to Viola Solid Rock Assembly of God Church, Donation Fund, P.O. Box 265, Viola, AR 72583.

Condolences can be expressed online at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Wilcox family.