Betty J. Wilcox, age 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 14, 2009 at Aurora Medical Center. She was born on February 7, 1923 the daughter of the late Clarence and Eunice (Jones) Erdman. Betty married George H. Wilcox on May 6, 1944. He preceded her in death on February 1, 1996. Betty was a lifelong member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ. She graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1941. Betty had been employed at Wisconsin Public Service, was a bookkeeper for Cowan Dairy, Miles Kimball, a kindergarten teachers assistant at Washington School, driver for the Rehabilitation Center for CP, and Ted Hoyer and Company. She was also active as a den leader for her sons' Cub Scout Troop, and as a leader for her daughter's Camp Fire Group at Washington School. Along with George, Betty was the founder of Our Christian Oshkosh Mission at St. Paul's. Betty was a loving mother and devoted friend having been a member of a Social Bridge Club started when she was 12 years old in 1935 and continuing till the present. Betty loved helping people and giving to others and always prayed that the Lord would give her someone to help, her door was always open and over the years she had welcomed in many strangers who soon had become friends. She was also a wonderful letter writer and her friends all over the world were thrilled and blessed to be the recipients of her letters. Betty had a very strong faith and her motto was "Life is for the living, so get on with it." Betty is survived by one daughter Rena (Robert) Gomach, her sons; Daniel (Dolores), Edward (Dianne), and Joseph (Julie), an adopted son Norman (Pat) Hillier of France, one brother John "Jack" Erdman, eleven grandchildren; Ann (Lance) Thern, Daniel (Tami) Weitz, John (Wendy) Wilcox, David (Robyn) Weitz, Mary Wilcox, George Wilcox, Heather (Mike) Lawrence, Brian (special friend Shanna Ganne) Wilcox, Robert (Kristilee) Wilcox, Sara Gomach, Alyson Wilcox, and 17 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service for Betty will be held on Saturday April 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's United Church of Christ with Pastor Brian Tokoph officiating. Family and friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Inurnment will be in Allenville Cemetery. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the kind and caring staff on 2 West at Aurora Medical Center, Aurora VNA Hospice and especially to Dr. Steven Blaha for his compassionate care of our mother through the years. "Those we hold dear never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they showed, the comfort they shared and the love brought into our lives."