Ivan Humphrey Wilcox, son of O.U Wilcox and Ola Wilcox, was born June 24, 1911 in Quinton, Oklahoma. He attended grade school and three years of high school in Quinton before he moved to Weleetka, Oklahoma in 1929. He graduated from Weleetka High in 1931 and played football and basketball throughout his school years.

He married Bettie Joyce Ray on Christmas Day in 1933 and worked for the Standolin Oil Corporation for several years prior to his military service.

By the time he registered for the military draft on October 16, 1940 Wilcox had moved to Ellenword, Kansas. He entered military service in May 1942 as part of the 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division. He was a First Lieutenant and landed in England before fighting in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany where he was killed.

Lt. Wilcox lost his life on November 17, 1944 in Germany at the age of 33, and was awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in Margraten, Netherlands, at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial and has a grave in Hillcrest Cemetery in Weleetka, Oklahoma. He was survived by his wife who was living with her parents in Torrance when he died.

To date we have been unable to locate a photograph of Ivan H. Wilcox. If you are a family member or have access to a photo, please contact the Torrance Historical Society.

Research by Noah Kim.