Michael Anthony Cox

Michael Anthony Cox, Ph.D., born March 21, 1952, called by the Lord, November 13, 2006. Survived by his spouse, Lola Turner Cox, and three sons, Christopher Ryan, Caleb Reagan and Joshua Michael, he is also survived by three siblings; John (Sarah), Douglas and Leslie (Ruth) and four nieces, Sarah, Stephanie, Shannon and Julianne. Michael had a wonderfully diverse and exciting life. Besides his rich and fulfilling marriage to his wife, Iola, he enjoyed immensely the raising of his sons. Mike and Iola home schooled their children and took great pride in their learning and achievements. They traveled the world, studying history and geography on a first hand basis. When they wanted to teach their children about the Panama Canal, they visited Panama. When they studied the American Revolution, they visited Boston and toured the historic sites. Mike and Iola had the opportunity to live in many varied locations around the United States and the world. They spent an extended time in New Zealand and used that as a base to explore the Pacific Rim. They lived in Vancouver, Canada for five years, and used that time to explore the Pacific Northwest. They were planning to reside in London for a time, until Mike's illness forced a change in plans. Mike and Iola also shared a deep faith with their children. Active in the First Baptist Church of Winter Park, their fellow members were a rock of support during Mike's long illness. He was a leader in technology and business, and a true innovator. While in college, he designed an individual curriculum around his desire to be a teaching tennis professional, taking physical therapy, business and psychology courses to round out his education and future career, when tennis was a relatively unknown sport. Later, he earned a doctorate in accounting and started a fledgling business offering computer tutoring to outplaced workers, one of the first to do so after the advent of the personal computer. This led him to start one of the first online universities, now called Rushmore University, and he was truly a trailblazer in what is now a thriving sector of the educational field. His school has thrived as well, providing needed educational services to literally thousands of people around the world, employing a top-notch team of professors. Michael had a tremendous influence on his siblings. His brother John is a CPA and lawyer in the Chicago area who has been active in politics and community affairs. His brother Douglas runs a very successful Apple computer consulting business in Fresno, California and his sister Leslie is a psychiatric nurse in Davis, California. He will be long remembered as a loving husband and father, a loving brother and a leader in business and his community. Viewing will take place Wednesday, November 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod Chapel, 7520 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park. A funeral service will be held at 10 am Thursday, November 16 at First Baptist Church of Winter Park, 1021 North New York Avenue, Winter Park. Michael will be laid to rest in a family gravesite service in Climbing Hill, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes friends to make donations to Child Evangelism Fellowship of East Texas, P.O. Box 358, Waverly, Texas 77358-0358.