Barry R. Cox Sr.

Barry R. Cox, Sr., a Stationary Engineer with Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown for 26 years, and lifelong area resident, died Friday, December 23, 2005 at his home in Middletown, N.Y. He was 61.

The son of David M. Cox and Elizabeth M. Kurz Cox, he was born November 1, 1944 in Middletown, N.Y. He was a member of the North Congregational Church in Middletown.

Barry was a Vietnam veteran serving with the U.S. Air Force at Son Nhut Air Force Base in Saigon. He was a past Commander of American Legion Post 151 in Middletown; and was the first Vietnam veteran to serve as a commander of an American Legion post in Orange County. He was an all-state Post Commander of V.F.W. Post 5523 in the Town of Wallkill; a member of V.F.W. Post 692 in Middletown; member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412; Free and Accepted Masons in Middletown, where he formerly served as Junior and Senior Master of Ceremonies and as a Trustee; was a member of Cyprus Temple Shriners of Albany, N.Y.; member, past President and former Treasurer of the Orange County Shrine Club; member and past Commander of Beth El Post 29 Masonic War Veterans and currently serving as 2nd Lieutenant Commander General Grand Post Masonic War Veterans State of N.Y. He was looking forward to serving as Commander General of the State of N.Y. in 2007-2008.

He was also a member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 163 Order of Eastern Star, having served as Worthy Patron, District Grand Lecturer of the Orange-Rockland District, and served as Grand Sentinel of the Order of Eastern Star State of N.Y.; former founder and organizer of the Town of Wallkill combined service Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt; former 4-H Leader, Scouts, and part of the Parents Club of the N.J.R.O.T.C. in the Middletown School System.

For many years he sold flags and flag poles in the area to raise funds for Beth El Post 29 and their veterans' projects.

He is survived by his wife, Linda N. Winand Cox, at home; two sons, William J. Cox and his wife, Elizabeth, of Lexington, N.C., and TSgt. Barry R. Cox, Jr. and his wife, Denise, of Bellevue, Neb.; six grandchildren: Tiffany, Caleb, Taylor, Chris, Jordan and Ashley; two brothers, Carl D. Cox and his wife, Donna of Cheektowaga, N.Y. and Raymond G. Cox and his wife, Linda of Pensacola, Fla.; one sister, Mary E. Kahn and her husband, Herman, of Woodbourne; several nieces and nephews; and his cat and buddy, Mr. Buffy.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 in the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell, Inc. Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown, N.Y., with interment in Orange County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Goshen, N.Y. The Reverend Timothy Woodard will officiate.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, December 26, 2005 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., where Eastern Star services will be held at 7:30 p.m., and Masonic services will be at 7:45 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tucker Center for Cancer Care, 60 Prospect Ave., Middletown, NY 10940, or Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550, or to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.

For directions or to send a condolence, please visit www.connellfuneralhome.com