Hui Cha Wilcox

Hui Cha Wilcox, 85, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2026 at her home with her family by her side.

Hui Cha was born in Korea on October 4, 1941 to the late Yong Un and Nam Ye (Kimto) Son.

Hui Cha was a Korean Civilian working as a secretary for the Commanding Officer of the Dental Clinic in Uijeongbu, Korea. (The location that the MASH tv show was based upon). It was here she caught the eye of Dentist, Captain James Wilcox. He wanted to spend time with her, but he wasn’t sure if she would go with him if she thought it was a date. So, he told a little white lie that he was married and asked her to be his tour guide to see the Palace in Seoul. As the Secretary of the Unit, she had records of all personnel in the detachment and was aware he was not married and kept that information to herself and agreed to the date where they visited the Changdeokgung Palace. It wasn’t until years later that she shared this information with Jim.

On June 29, 1966 she and Jim were married in a civil ceremony at the American Embassy in Seoul, Korea. They followed with a church wedding on July 23rd at Camp Red Cloud Officers Club with family and friends.

Following his tour of duty in Korea, he was stationed in Nurnberg, Germany for four years at the 87th medical detachment. It was here they welcomed their sons Clifton and Derrick. While in Europe they especially enjoyed traveling through the Alps and hiking in the mountains. Upon returning to the United States, they moved to Pennsylvania where Jim completed his two-year residency in pediatric dentistry at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They returned to Joliet, Illinois where she helped Jim establish his dental practice. Here they raised their family until Jim’s retirement in 2007. For 35 years he was better known as “Dr. Jim, the kids’ dentist”. Following retirement they moved to Traverse City in 2014.

In her free time, Hui Cha loved to play tennis. She was an accomplished player and accumulated quite a few tennis friends and trophies. She adored animals and had a special place in her heart for her dogs Charcoal, Tasha, Tiffany, Misha, Jolie and Jolie Girl, all Schipperkes who were beautiful black cuddly, smart and playful canine friends. She was also an avid walker and would often be seen around their neighborhood taking a stroll. Throughout her life, she and Jim loved to travel and often went back to the European Alps. In 2024, they returned to Korea and went back to the Palace where they had their first date. They took Cliff, his wife Karen and granddaughter Megan and experienced an incredible vacation where they visited her hometown and learned about her family history and culture.

She was preceded in death by her brother and parents.

Hui Cha is survived by her husband Jim; their sons Cliff (Karen) Wilcox and Derrick Wilcox; and granddaughter Megan, a student of the University of Virginia studying computer science. 

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 3 pm at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Private family graveside services will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, we appreciate your thoughts, prayers and friendship.