Robert David Cox

1929 - 2017

Robert David (Dave) Cox

September 6, 1929-March 25, 2017

Robert David Cox passed away peacefully in his sleep at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland on March 25, 2017. Dave is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Pauline, children, Terri, Steve (Nadine), Jerry, Jim and Bob and 4 grandchildren, Joshua, Jeremiah, David and Tristen.

Dave was born in Seattle and raised in Ballard with his 3 sisters, Winnie, Pat and Barbra. Dave graduated from Ballard High School in 1947. Dave and Pauline married on May 16, 1953, in Laredo, Texas, while Dave served in the Air Force. In 1954, following military duty, Dave and Pauline moved back to Ballard to start their family and begin his commercial aviation career.

Dave entered the US Air Force in 1950 as an Aviation Cadet and graduated from flight school in Laredo, Texas, as a jet fighter pilot in 1951. Following gunnery training and qualification in Las Vegas, Dave was assigned first to Okinawa and then Korea where he flew 100 combat missions during the Korean War.

Dave was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for destroying two enemy trains which he sighted after bad weather had made it impossible for him to lead his flight over the scheduled target area. The citation accompanying the Air Medal award read in part: "Lieutenant Cox engaged in strafing and dive bombing attacks from dangerously low altitudes destroying and damaging enemy installations while contact with enemy aircraft was probable and expected."

Following Dave's 100th mission in Korea he was assigned to Laredo, Texas, as an instructor pilot until 1954. Dave continued to serve his country in the Air Force Reserve flying fighter jets for the Washington Air National Guard until he was honorably discharged in 1966.

After Dave completed his active military service he began his commercial aviation career in 1955, flying DC-3's for West Coast Airlines out of Boeing Field in Seattle. Dave's commercial aviation experience included flying DC-3's, F-27's, DC-9's and Boeing 757's. After 35 years in commercial aviation Dave retired with Northwest Airlines in 1989.

Since retirement Dave and Pauline have enjoyed family, church, played a lot of golf and escorted orphan babies to the US from Thailand.

Rosary at 10:00 AM followed by a celebration of life, 11:00 AM, Friday, April 7, 2017, at St. Brendan's Catholic Church, 10051 NE 195th, Bothell.