Myrtice Hurd Wilkins

The frequent “board meetings” scheduled by Myrtice (Tice) Hurd Wilkins at Fremont Hills Retirement Home Memory Care will be suspended permanently at Tice’s request. Tice, an organizer; nurse; youth counselor; emergency foster care provider; loving daughter, sister, mother, wife, mother-in-law, grandma, great-mama, aunt, friend; and compassionate friend to the sick and homeless, spent the last 2 years as a resident in the Memory Care facility at Fremont Hills. However, Tice, the most steadfast of souls, recently left us for a much better position in heaven on June 4 at the age of 85. No doubt, Tice has already come up with big plans to continue her loving and caring reach. Born October 1, 1930 in Mankato, Minnesota, childhood provided the foundation for a life of service. Her father, Dr. Loren Curtis Hurd, was an internationally known scientist, and her mother Eleanor Whiting Hurd, an artist, was deaf. As the oldest child, Tice became a second mother to her two sisters, Mary and Ann, and a dedicated helper to her family. It was no surprise (except perhaps to her father) that Tice chose to attend nursing school and became an RN before marrying Dr. Charles Norman Wilkins Jr in 1954. Tice and Charlie had a wonderful 62 year marriage that gave the world 4 great children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. As the wife of a Navy Officer in the 1950’s, Tice broke with tradition (and rules) while living in Korea. She left the base, got to know the community, and volunteered in local orphanages. She had cribs built, taught staff how to care for sick children, and procured supplies and milk. After returning to California she continued to send aid packages and enlisted the assistance of her four children, Wendy, Charles, Robin and Mary, who donated the coins they raised by running backyard carnivals to cover the postage. In 1964 Charlie’s medical practice was flourishing in Fremont and Tice saw a need in the area for children and youth counseling services. With the support of a Cal State University Hayward (East Bay) professor and student interns, she started the Washington Township Counseling Services – the first counseling service to open in Fremont and it was free. Tice’s efforts to help others never stopped. She was a nurse in her husband’s practice and a host to foreign exchange students. She provided emergency foster care to children and teens who had run away or needed temporary care – often sharing her interest in photography and her dark room to engage and help calm anxious kids in transition. After joining the United Church of Christ in 1967, she served in many positions, including as the nurse for 25 years the church’s camp, Camp Cazadero. She was also a member of the PEO sorority for over 50 years. In 1990 when she saw the devastation of the AIDs epidemic, she reacted by starting Mission Aids to help local AIDs patients and their families. In recent years, Tice and Charlie brought food and clothing to the homeless and invited many in need into their home. Tice and Charlie shared a love for service, family, travel, and their little rescue dog, Scruffy who lit up their lives for 19 years. Instead of letting Dementia stop her, Tice became friend and counselor to everyone she met and cheerfully planned frequent “board meetings” at Fremont Hills until the great offer from Heaven came through. Tice’s family is very grateful to the staff at Fremont Hills for their loving care. Tice Wilkins has joined her daughter Robin, her sisters Mary and Ann, and beloved dog Scruffy. She is survived by her devoted husband Charlie; her daughters Wendy and Mary, son Charles; daughter-and sons-in-law Karen, George, BJ, and Jim, and ; her very loved grandchildren (and their spouses): Jessie Winsted, Jenny Wilson (husband Sean), Nancy Weaver (husband Jason), Cheech Patane (fiancé Kayla), Jason and Chris Sikkel, Charlie, Andrew, Sunni, and George Wilkins in addition to 6 great-grand children Olen and Arlo Blomberg, Georgia and Charlie Wilson, Lincoln Weaver, Addison Meints , cousins, John Hempel and Paul Richert, along with her extended family Vicki and Edward Winsted. She also had many nieces and a nephew that were very important to her life. She will be missed by all Join Tice’s family in celebrating her life at a memorial service on Saturday, June 25, 2pm at the United Church of Christ, 38255 Blacow Road, Fremont. In lieu of flowers, Tice’s family requests help to carry on her work through donations to Sulphur Creek Nature Center, your local animal shelter in memory of Scruffy, your favorite educational group, or to an Alzheimer’s organization.

Myrtice Hurd Wilkins

October 1, 1930 - June 4, 2016