Music Prof. Eunice Wilcox Passes Away

November 8, 2011

November 8, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — Eunice A. Wilcox, professor emerita of music education and a member of the DePauw University School of Music faculty for 17 years, passed away early today in Lafayette, Indiana.  She was 85 years old.

Born on December 15, 1925, Dr. Wilcox joined the DePauw faculty as an assistant professor in 1970 after teaching music education, voice and piano at Western Michigan and Michigan State universities. She became an associate professor at DePauw in 1978. She previously taught in the Bryan, Ohio, public schools and at Zimmerman Junior High School in Flint, Michigan. After retiring from DePauw in 1987, the Wilcox taught part-time voice, music education, and music appreciation at Martin University in Indianapolis.

A mezzo-soprano, she was associated for five years with American Savoyards, a professional Gilbert and Sullivan company.  She also sang as a solo performer in many churches throughout the Midwest and Canada.

Wilcox earned her B.M. from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts degree from Western Michigan, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State. Her doctoral thesis explored "The Effect on Sight Reading of Using Contemporary Vocalises in Voice Class." (at right: DePauw's Performing Arts Center in the 1970s)

The professor was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Educators National Conference, Pi Kappa Lambda and Actors Equity. She also served on the board of directors of the Putnam County Playhouse and was the choir director at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Greencastle.

Services will be Saturday, November 12, at the gravesite in Burroak, Michigan.

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