Stevie "Steve" C. Wilcox - Obituary

tevie C. Wilcox, known to most as “Steve,” was born on February 22, 1961, in Laurel, Mississippi, to Hiram and Jessie Wilcox. He was the oldest of four children.  After battling an illness, he passed away on February 14, 2025. As a child, Steve was always quiet and reserved. He carried around a monkey with long legs everywhere he went. Once, he stuck a nail file in an outlet, and it shot him across the room. He then told everyone to make sure not to do that. In high school, he was extremely competitive, becoming a good athlete in baseball, basketball, soccer, and bowling. After his first year of college in Texas, he came back able to do Michael Jackson's moonwalk, which shocked everyone. Steve graduated from Central High School in Maryland in 1979. In 1981, he decided to join the military, and he served 23 years in the United States Air Force. He was assigned to Andrews AFB, Maryland, working in oral and maxillofacial surgery for 10 years, during which time he was also deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. In 1994, He was reassigned to Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan, where he served for 4 years, and then to Spangdahlem AFB near Bitburg, Germany, for another 4 years. He finished his career at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C., and he retired from the Air Force in March 2005. In 1982, Steve married the love of his life, Valerie, and they had 3 children: Lindsay, Courtney, and Ryan. Steve was always a very diligent worker. For 10 years, in addition to his full-time job, he worked a part-time job at the Verizon Center to make sure all his children could go to college. They all graduated, and he never failed to mention how proud he was of them. He was always a good husband and father and never wanted anyone to go out of their way for him.   In 2005, Steve started his second career working for the federal government in the Department of Homeland Security Administration for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). For most of this part of his career, he was a Supervisor: Coordination Center Officer (SCCO). In the protocol office, he supported many VIPs that traveled through U.S. airports. He was committed to his work and did an outstanding job ensuring all of the VIPs received first-class treatment. He supported higher-level officials such as accredited ambassadors to the U.S., Wounded Warriors, Congressional representatives, and veterans participating in honor flights. He received a certificate of Congressional Recognition stating, “He distinguished himself as a person of merit, intellect, diplomacy and professionalism in all matters under his responsibility”.  He retired from the TSA in July 2023 after 18 years of service and looked forward to enjoying retirement life.   Steve loved attending his son Ryan’s sporting events whether the sport was soccer, basketball, or football. The other players would always say, “Your dad is at every game!” and that was true. There was nothing that would keep him from going, although sometimes he thought it was ok to coach from the bleachers. His son was also proud of him and loved talking about NFL and NBA teams and games with him. Steve also enjoyed attending live sporting events whenever he could with his wife and son. He collected sports bobbleheads and had many autographed sports pictures and memorabilia that he cherished. He loved to watch animal documentaries and looked forward to Shark Week. He shared his love for sci-fi, fantasy, and monster media with his daughter Courtney, and his daughter Lindsay played a big role in his conversion to the Catholic faith.   Steve was enormously proud of all of his children and their accomplishments. His children always knew how proud he was of them; they never had to wonder because he always let them know. Whatever they needed, he was right there to provide. Neither rain nor snow nor sunshine would keep him from being there. Even if his children just wanted to talk about something or get advice, he was there for them. Steve was always very animated in his stories to them and others, and that is something everyone will remember. Steve and his wife Valerie enjoyed many activities together such as traveling, riding bikes, taking walks, going to the movies, and taking a cruise now and then. They were also just as happy sitting at home watching television and just being together. After retiring, they relocated to Delaware and really enjoyed living there along with meeting their new neighbors and friends. Steve enjoyed bowling and other outings with his friends, doing yard work, and talking to his dad many times a day about various topics. Steve will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jessie P. Wilcox, and his brother Hiram C. Wilcox Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 42 years, Valerie; along with his children, Lindsay, Courtney, and Ryan Wilcox; his father; Hiram C. Wilcox Sr. (Bridgette); his sister, Linda Allen (Wade); his brother, John Wilcox (Harding); his nieces and nephews Wade B., Nina, Benjamin, Kayla, Sydney, and Jackson; and many other family members and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to Stevie's Life Celebration on Monday, March 10, 2025 from 10 to 11 A.M. at St John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 8908 Old Branch Avenue Clinton, MD 20735. Readings from the family will be shared, beginning at 10:30 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 A.M. The burial will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Please have any flowers delivered directly to the church by 10 A.M.