Ethel May (Brinker) Wilcox
October 9, 1934 – May 10, 2026
Fortuna, California

Ethel’s parents, Herman and Edith Brinker, resided in Cornell, Michigan, where she was born at home, the second of five children. At the age of 10, her family moved west to Idaho, first residing in Pocatello, then McCammon and finally Kimberly, where they remained for many years.

When Ethel was 15, her mother contracted a terminal illness and needed care. Ethel quit school and cared for her mother at home until her passing approximately a year later, in 1951. After caring for her mother, she went out on her own, working as a nanny for several different families in the Twin Falls area. During this time period, she gave birth to a baby boy. With the help of dear friends, the baby was adopted and raised by a wonderful Christian couple. Ethel and Mort were reunited 43 years later, and the entire family developed a close, loving relationship, bringing great joy to the entire family. In 1953, Ethel met her husband to be, Glenn Wilcox. The Wilcox family resided in Murtaugh, Idaho.

Glen’s brother, Bob, had married Ethel’s sister Lucy while Glenn was serving in the army, in Germany. Upon returning home, he met Ethel, and it was love at first sight! They were married five months later, on October 3, 1953, in Murtaugh, where Glenn was working on a potato farm. In August of 1954, they welcomed their first child, Rebecca. In November of that year, they made the decision to travel to California to look for a better employment opportunity. Glenn quickly found work at Pacific Lumber Company, in Scotia, where he worked his entire life, and from which he eventually retired. In the ensuing years, three more daughters were born; Esther, Julia and Sarah. While raising her family, Ethel also became a day care mother, welcoming many children into her home and blessing them with her love and care. Ethel loved spending time with her large extended family, as well as many close friends. She and Glenn were lifelong members of the Rio Dell Assembly of God church, giving countless hours of their time and resources to the church body, from which so many of their dear friends were found.

Ethel had a giving heart. She was especially adept at judging the needs, likes and sizes of those around her, and she loved perusing yard sales and thrift stores where she found clothing or useful items she knew someone in her acquaintance could use. She had a good eye for spotting quality items, and many of you reading this will fondly recall being blessed by her generous giftings over the years.

She loved flowers, especially pink carnations, going for drives with Glenn to get ice cream or other treats, visiting family and friends and making their annual vacation trips to Idaho each summer to visit family. She and Glenn loved being together and rarely did anything apart. They were married for 68, beautiful, loving years. He passed on May 10, 2022.

When Glenn retired From PL, they moved to Fortuna where they attended The Fortuna Nazarine church for many years, meeting many new and much loved friends. When Glenn went home to be with Jesus in 2022, Ethel made the decision to move to the Fortuna Rehab and Wellness Center, where she resided until she, too, recently went home to be with Jesus. While there, her only remaining sister, Lucy, visited her every day. They often played games and did crafts together, or simply reminisced over a long and wonderful life lived side by side in the service of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Ethel is preceded in death by:

  • Her husband, Glenn Wilcox, May 10, 2022
  • Her daughter, Rebecca (Wilcox) Laloli, April 15, 2025
  • Her sister, Betty (Brinker) Dockins, March 24, 2012
  • Her brother Carl Brinker, May 28, 2012
  • Her brother Gerald Brinker, May 31, 2001
  • Her father, Herman Brinker, August 31, 1973
  • Her mother, Edith Brinker, November 8, 1951

Ethel is survived by:

  • Her son, Mort (& Tina) Thompson, Buhl, Idaho
  • Her daughter Esther (& Steve) Smith, Silverton, Oregon
  • Her daughter Julia (& Gary) Davis, Vine Grove, Kentucky
  • Her daughter Sarah (Wilcox) Sheldon, Ferndale.
  • Her sister Lucy (Brinker) Wilcox, Rio Dell.

Also grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a great many nieces and nephews and extended family, all of whom she loved very much, and who will miss her greatly.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us in celebration of the life of our dear mother, Ethel. She valued each of you and appreciated that so many of you were able to visit her occasionally or regularly, and keep her in your prayers. She is waiting to see you again in Glory! Blessings and love to all.

Per Ethel’s wishes, there is to be a viewing at Goble’s Mortuary on May 30, from 9 to 11 a.m., to be followed with a graveside service at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna at 1 p.m. Please join us afterwords for refreshments in Ethel’s memory at the Fortuna Nazarine Church, located on Ross Hill Road.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ethel Wilcox’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.