Harold Dean Wilcoxen

Obituary of Harold Dean Wilcoxen February 23, 1935 - July 6,2025 With sadness, we share the news of the passing of Harold “Dean” Wilcoxen on July 6, 2025. During his 90 years of adventurous living, he described himself as “a poor kid from South St. Louis” who went on to live an enriched, successful life. He was an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life. Dean was born on February 23, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri to George Wilcoxen and Esther May (Babcock) Wilcoxen. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Esther; by his three brothers, George (Eva) Wilcoxen, Carl (Gwen) Wilcoxen and Paul (Virginia) Wilcoxen; by his two wives, Mary Lou (Buschhorn) Wilcoxen, Marlyn Louise (Behnken) Stone Wilcoxen; and by a great-grandchild, Maura Wilcoxen (daughter of Kyle and Lauren Wilcoxen). Dean attended Roosevelt High School until the age of 16 when he married Mary Lou Buschhorn. From this youthful and ardent marriage, four children, Louise, Linda, Terry Dean and Dale, were born by the time he was 23 years old. Dean and Mary Lou divorced after 23 years of marriage. Drafted at the age of 19 into the US Army, Dean served two years as an enlisted person. During this time, he obtained his GED, applied for Helicopter Training, and received a commission as a Warrant Officer. He spent the next three years at the Aviation Center as an Instructor Pilot while earning two years of college credit to maintain his commission. After leaving military service in 1960, he flew helicopters in civilian life. His pilot license listed him as a Commercial Pilot, qualified in Airplanes, Single Engine Land or Seaplanes, and Helicopters. Recalled to active duty in 1962, Dean served a tour in Vietnam for a year and a half. In 1963, after returning to civilian life in St. Louis, Dean started a new career as a salesman of electrical construction material for the next 13 years. During this time, Dean married Marlyn Behnken Stone, a widow, in 1973, adding Marlyn’s three children, Ronald, Catherine and Christopher, to his family and life. In 1976, Dean and Marlyn started Wilcoxen Office Supply Company in St. Charles, MO. The company found such success that he soon quit his sales job to fully join Marlyn in the new business. Over the next 20 years, the company expanded to nine locations and added dozens of employees. Dean was able to retire in his mid-fifties, moving to Fort Myers, Florida. For the next thirty-odd years, it was a life of travel and golf. Dean completed his 125 item “Bucket List” and spent the remaining years reminiscing. Marlyn and Dean visited over 170 countries and territories. This second marriage to Marlyn continued for 46 exciting, adventurous years. After Marlyn’s passing, life blessed Dean in finding a new, loving companion and partner in Bernice “Bee” Horner, a friend of 20 years. Dean and Bee enjoyed traveling, music functions and spending time with friends and family. They became a great team, providing for each other’s health and happiness in so many ways. Dean will be remembered for his sharp wit, his sense of humor and his skill with numbers. He was a friend and mentor to many over the years, always willing to lend a helping hand or some sage advice. His passing has left a void in the hearts of the family and friends. Dean is survived by his cherished companion and devoted partner, Bernice “Bee” Horner; by his sister-in-law, Eva (George) Wilcoxen; by his four children, Louise (Michael) Wilson, Linda (Timothy) Potts, Terry Dean Wilcoxen and Dale (Marlene) Wilcoxen; by Marlyn’s three children, Ronald (Angela) Stone, Catherine (Douglas) Lampshire and Christopher (Lisa Richards) Stone; by his 16 grandchildren, Julie (Michael) Whittington, Karen Angerer, Stephanie (Robert Collins) Fitzpatrick, Ryan Potts, Erin (Michael) Evans, Drew (Lindsay) Wilcoxen, Kyle (Lauren Kolodziej) Wilcoxen, Curtis (Andrea Lehman) Wilcoxen, Eileen (David) Bresnahan, Kevin (Shanna) Wilcoxen, Brian Stone, Scott Stone, Emily Stone, Amelia Stone, Sophia (Brendan) Sands, Charles Stone; and by his 16 great-grandchildren, Chloe Nelson, Max Nelson, Celia Whittington, Colin Whittington, Sean Angerer, Caroline “Callie” Angerer, Daniel Collins, Claire Wilcoxen, Ethan Wilcoxen, Walter Wilcoxen, Cicely Wilcoxen, Jack Bresnahan, Kinley Bresnahan, Clark Wilcoxen, Emma Wilcoxen and Theodore Wilcoxen. A private memorial “Celebration of Life Service” will be held at a time and place to be determined by the family and Dean’s ashes will be placed in an urn to rest in a niche/columbarium at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri at 11:30 a.m. on July 22, 2025.

Harold Dean Wilcoxen

February 23, 1935 - July 6, 2025