Joseph Cox

Chaplain Don Cox Joseph Donald Cox was born in San Angelo, Texas on May 8, 1930 to Elmer Winfield Cox and Nellie Bell Keeton Cox. He was the youngest of ten children. Don graduated from Texas Christian University in 1951 and Brite Divinity School in 1954. He married Patricia Anne Ward that same year and together they had Donna in 1957. While in seminary and during this time, he pastored several Christian churches in East, North, and West Texas. Patricia passed away in 1961. In 1962, Don joined the United States Navy Chaplain Corps where he served for 23 years, most of that time with the Marines. He served overseas in Vietnam stationed in Da Nang during the war, Korea and Japan and several stateside bases. In December 1967, Don married Joan Burton Messer Cox. Together they were stationed in states across the country including North Carolina, Rhode Island, and California before retiring to Belton. In 1972, they had Joseph Donald Cox, Jr. Don was overseas and received the news of the birth of his son immediately after baptizing three sailors in the Aegean Sea. Don and Joan were married for fortysix years.

He is survived by his wife Joan of Belton, sister Marjorie Cox Hamilton of El Paso, brother Phillip Cox of Lake Worth, Florida, sister Louella Cox Majek of Burton, son Joseph Donald Cox Jr. and wife Regina of Belton, daughter Donna Cox Kolar of Ft. Worth, stepsons Bill Messer and wife Ann of Belton, John Messer and wife Laura of Belton, twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren with some on the way.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Taylors Valley Baptist Church Building Fund, 2497 FM 93 Hwy, Temple, Texas 76502.