Allen Fred Ellis Wilcox, 83, of Union City, passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at Northpointe Woods in Battle Creek under the care of Great Lakes Hospice.A celebration of Al's life will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 3 PM at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City, just west of Arbogast Road on M-60. Pastor Marty Burdick from the Union City Wesleyan Church will officiate. Visitation will be from 1-3 PM on Thursday, January 19, 2017, also at The Lighthouse. Burial with military honors will be at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park in Toledo, OH at 1 PM on Friday, January 20, 2017.Al was born on February 27, 1933 in Toledo, OH to Eber and Bernice (Faulconer) Wilcox. He grew up in Toledo and began working at the age of 13 as a baker's assistant to help his mother make ends meet. He attended Irving E. Macomber Vocational High School, from which he graduated in 1951. At Macomber, he learned cabinet-making skills that led to a lifelong woodworking hobby. His adult career began with Columbia Gas in Toledo, as a meter reader. He worked there for two years until drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 during the Korean War. Al served in the 304th Signal Battalion as a cryptographic operator in Seoul, Korea, until 1955. His service decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal and Sharpshooter (rifle).Post-Army service, Al returned to work at Columbia Gas. He and his first wife, the former Donna Thompson, lived and raised their three children in the Toledo area. Al was promoted through the ranks and retired as district service supervisor in 1988. He and Donna purchased a retirement home in Michigan on Bartholomew Lake in Coldwater. They enjoyed boating and lake life together until Donna's death in 1995. On December 20, 1997, Al married Martha Hamp after mutual introduction by Pastor Gaylon Majors. The couple made their home on Turtle Lake in Union City, where Al became a member of the Wesleyan Church and was baptized in the St. Joseph River.Family and work were Al's life. He enjoyed vacationing in Tennessee with his first wife and children, and a memorable trip to the Western states. He coached Little League and was a volunteer mentor for Junior Achievement. In retirement, he liked traveling, bowling and playing dominoes and other games with Martha. Al had a real talent for taking apart vehicles and equipment and rebuilding them. He always owned and enjoyed dogs. He was a very giving person whom others regarded as honest, fair, loyal and principled. But you had to watch out for his finger-crunching handshake.Left to mourn Al's passing are his wife, Martha; children David (Denise) Wilcox of Crestview, FL, Daniel (Leann) Wilcox and Diana Wilcox, both of Toledo; stepson Scott (Nancy) Hamp of Hinsdale, IL; grandchildren Tiffany and Michael Watkins, Andrew and Linda DeGarmo, Dana Wilcox, Derek and Nikki Wilcox, Hayley and Erica Wilcox; great-grandchildren Hunter DeGarmo, Noah Hoffman, Alexander Watkins, Hailey Watkins, Brice Watkins, Delaney Watkins, Landon DeGarmo, Aria DeGarmo, Gracelyn Wilcox and two others on the way; and step-grandchildren Elizabeth Hamp, Lauren Hamp and Nathan Hamp.In addition to his mother and his first wife, Donna, Al was preceded in death by his sister, Elaine Netry.Memorial contributions are suggested to the Union City Wesleyan Church or The Gideons International. Please visit www.lighthousefuneral.com to share memories, photos or videos with the family.