William Cox Jr.

1928 - 2022

William Cox, Jr.

July 1, 1928 - Aug. 21, 2022

William Homer Cox, Jr. passed away August 21, 2022 in Waco, Texas. A funeral service will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home. A visitation will be from 5-7pm, Friday, August 26, 2022 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.

Dr. William Homer Cox, Jr. who preferred to go simply by "Bill" was born in Commerce, Texas on July 1, 1928 the oldest child of William and Zelma Cox. He graduated in 1948 from East Texas State Teacher's College (now East Texas State University) and began a career in education as a teacher at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin. He also served in the Texas National Guard. That teaching career was interrupted by service in the Korean War during which Bill received two bronze stars. He returned to Hubbard, Texas where he later owned a lumber yard, Cox Lumber Company, built an 18' sailboat, served in the volunteer fire department and sang in the Methodist church choir which he dearly loved. Later in life he was a long-time member of the Baylor Senior Choir. He resumed his teaching career path in 1968 joining the staff of Texas State Technical Institute in Waco, Texas. In 1983, Bill earned a Doctorate in Vocational Education from Texas A&M University, and in 1990 Dr. Cox became the Dean of Instruction on the Waco campus of Texas State Technical College, the position he held until he retired.

Bill became an avid ham radio enthusiast. He was a member of MARS, Military Auxiliary Radio System, and helped connect soldiers in Vietnam with their loved ones. He was an active member of the Heart O' Texas Amateur Radio Club. Bill had grown up hunting and fishing and roaming the woods near his home as a boy and he never stopped being an outdoorsman at heart. Nor did he ever lose his love of working with his hands. To make his own repairs to his home, to build custom furniture to fit as needed, to improve the land he could step out and walk on beyond his back door - all were sources of tremendous satisfaction to Bill.

Bill Cox was preceded in death by his wife, Margarite Ann Cox, and also sister, Ellen Kate "Tweet." He is survived by his brother, George Cox (Beverly), two daughters Elizabeth Wayland and Kathleen Gilmore (Greg), two sons Bobby Cox (Sandra) and Richard Cox (Cheryl), eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren, three step daughters Pamela Sharp (Bill), Margarite Anderson and Sharon Jandrain and their five children and one grandchild.

If you wish to make a donation in Bill's name please do so to the Heart O' Texas Amateur Radio Club (Hotarc.org).