After years of living courageously with illness, Malcolm died peacefully with his family beside him at Royal Jubilee Hospital, where the care he received went far above and beyond our expectations. Malcolm was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England, on April 28, 1934, the youngest of 11 children born to Mabel Egan and Wallace Wilcock.
In the early 1950’s, he served in the British army in South Korea as an ambulance driver. He developed skills he was to use for the rest of his life; back in England, he completed the highest level of drivers license and made his living driving for the rest of his working life. Malcolm received a medal for armed forces veterans in recognition of service to his country.
Malcolm loved cars, always had a beautiful one, and was the first in Dewsbury to drive an American car. As Malcolm aged, he willingly gave up driving and his car, and his family respected him for that. He was also a skilled and self-taught cabinet maker and handy man extraordinaire.
After Malcolm and Barbara retired, they immigrated to Canada in 2000 to be closer to their son Michael. They lived in Kitsilano Vancouver, then Ucluelet, and later in James Bay Victoria. They were proud to become Canadian citizens. Malcolm was an intelligent, kind, and gentle person with a great sense of humour and fun. He was a wonderful father and a solid friend to his son Michael, ever supportive and accepting.
Malcolm was a loving and devoted husband to Barbara, his wife of 63 years. He loved to tell people that he and Barbara met in the bath, then clarifying that it was the Bath Hotel in Dewsbury where they met. Malcolm’s wit, intellect, and kindness will be immensely missed by his wife Barbara, his son Michael, his daughter-in-law Margot, and the many relatives and friends who loved him, both in England and Canada.
Malcolm was cremated on July 21, 2021 with family present at Royal Oak Burial Park. Friends and family are invited to a gathering in honour of Malcolm’s life at the Sam McGee Room, Bard and Banker on July 29, 2021 from 3 to 6 pm. Donations in memory of Malcolm may be made to the Royal Jubilee Hospital Foundation https://www.victoriahf.ca/donaterjh.
May you rest in peace Malcolm. Thank you for all your love and care. We will love you and keep you in our hearts forever.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
16 Responses
Oh Barbara. That’s so so sad.
You were each other’s world. Totally devoted to one another. I’ll always remember him putting ‘A mi esposa con amor’ on Barbara’s birthday cards.
Do you remember him sounding his horn in his tanker when he passed nursery and getting orange smarties from the factory!!
Happy times in the caravan. All your wooden ornaments at Francis road.
Thinking of you always
Sue x x
“It’s very difficult to separate Malcolm from Barbara, they were a team a top team .”
So sorry to bend the rules but our happy memories involve Mr. and Mrs. Wilcock.
Pamela and myself were fortunate a few years ago to enjoy a wonderful holiday in Canada. e were doubly lucky to include Vancouver Island on our itinerary.
We spent an idyllic week in Tofino. Some of you may appreciate that Tofino and Ucluelet are very different from Earlsheaton. But worry not, Malcolm and Barbara welcomed us to the area, treated us to a lovely “meal out” in a restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They also kindly showed us around the wonderful coast of this special area. To say they made us welcome would be an understatement.
But their crowning achievement was to get Pamela, a nervous flyer at the best of times, into the 6 or 8 seater aeroplane that left Tofino airport. I say airport I do not recall the duty free.
Two lovely, kind and considerate individuals, two wonderful friends .
PS On Thursday 29th July myself and my mother will be out on our usual walk around Earlsheaton Park we will as is our habit include Frances Road. We will stop for a brief moment and no doubt she’ll shed a tear or two as we remember Malcolm.
“As a child and friend of Michael, I was fortunate to spend time with the family.”
“One memory of Malcolm was related to one of his work vehicles. He had a big green truck which he might park at the family home.”
It had an open trailer and sometimes contained large vehicle tyres. I remember Malcolm throwing the tyres around the trailer using the huge strength in his forearms. It made the tyres look like feather pillows.”
With All Our Love
Remembering all the happy times, Uncle Malcolm will be greatly missed
“As a child and friend of Michael, I was fortunate to spend time with the family.”
“One memory of Malcolm was related to one of his work vehicles. He had a big green truck which he might park at the family home.”
It had an open trailer and sometimes contained large vehicle tyres. I remember Malcolm throwing the tyres around the trailer using the huge strength in his forearms. made the tyres look like feather pillows.”
From David & Pamela Townend
“It’s very difficult to separate Malcolm from Barbara, they were a team a top team .”
So sorry to bend the rules but our happy memories involve Mr and Mrs Wilcock.
Pamela and myself were fortunate a few years ago to enjoy a wonderful holiday in Canada.We were doubly lucky to include Vancouver Island on our itinerary.
We spent an idyllic week in Tofino. Some of you may appreciate that Tofino and Ucluelet are very different from Earlsheaton. But worry not, Malcolm and Barbara welcomed us to the area, treated us to a lovely “meal out” in a restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They also kindly showed us around the wonderful coast of this special area. To say they made us welcome would be an understatement.
But their crowning achievement was to get Pamela, a nervous flyer at the best of times, into the 6 or 8 seater aeroplane that left Tofino airport. I say airport I do not recall the duty free.
Two lovely, kind and considerate individuals, two wonderful friends .
PS On Thursday 29th July myself and my mother will be out on our usual walk around Earlsheaton Park we will as is our habit include Frances Road. We will stop for a brief moment and no doubt she’ll a tear or two as we remember Malcolm.
From Sue Winner
Oh Barbara. That’s so so sad.
You were each other’s world. Totally devoted to one another. I’ll always remember him putting ‘A mi esposa con amor’ on Barbara’s birthday cards.
Do you remember him sounding his horn in his tanker when he passed nursery and getting orange smarties from the factory!!
Happy times in the caravan. All your wooden ornaments at Francis road.
Thinking of you always
Sue x x
I was so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing, Michael. I know he hadn’t been well for some time, but that doesn’t make it any less sorrowful for anyone who loved him. My deepest and most affectionate condolences to Barbara.
I remember meeting Malcom and Barbara at Michael’s and Margot’s place on Commercial Drive , here in Vancouver, and I was so impressed by the evident bond of love they shared, and their enormous pride in their son. They glowed with it. It also struck me how intrepid they were, deciding to move to a new country to live. When most retirees were hunkering down for their sunset years, they were up for a new adventure. Only a couple with an unshakeable faith in each other would have taken that leap .And the last time I saw Malcolm, even though his health was less than robust, he’d made a new home with Barbara, new friends, and was happy and grounded in Victoria. And as always,with his great warmth, kindness, and unfailing good nature, he made light of any of the physical challenges he was facing, In his quiet uncomplaining way, like many of his generation, he was the bravest of men. I think, though, the thing that reflected his character most was the deep love he had for his son, to whom he has passed on his own sterling qualities of strength, loyalty and steadfastness in challenging times. Michael is truly his father’s son, in his quiet support for those he loves, he has shown that so clearly over the years. Malcom will always be here in his son, and we are all in his debt for that legacy. He left his world a better place than he found it. There’s nothing greater than that. My love to all his family, particularly Barbara , Michael, and Margot.
Catherine Barroll
Michael, Margot, and Barbara,
This is to let you know that we are with you in spirit from across the Rockies as you mourn Malcolm’s passing, remember the times you shared together, and celebrate the gracious and courageous way he lived his life.
For our part, we will always remember him fondly as a cherished member of our family, one who brought many gifts to the table: gracious hospitality, good humour, and a gentle spirit that was consistently respectful and accepting of others.
We were always happy in his company, and we will happily hold him in the heart’s affection.
May God bless him and all of you now and always.
Much love,
Paul & Mary Anne
Message to Barbara and Family.
Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always there.