William Lloyd Cox, Jr.

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William Lloyd Cox, Jr., age 79, of Sullivan, MO, passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at Gerald Nursing and Rehab, with his wife, his son, Dale, and the caring staff by his side.

William Lloyd Cox, Jr. was born on April 29, 1940 in Festus, MO, the son of William Lloyd and Jewell Irene (Cunningham) Cox. His very first job was as a soda jerk, in Festus. William and his family lived in Festus until 1956. After the loss of his father, they moved to Union, where William got a summer job working in a shoe factory. He graduated from Union High School in May of 1958. About two years later, Williams mother, Jewell, remarried and the family moved to Gerald. Through the summer, William did odd jobs for farmers and also worked at Stave Mill. After high school, William went to work at Brown Shoe in Owensville from September 1958 to February 1963, when his stepfather helped him get a job at McDonnell Aircraft (now Boeing). 

In August 1963, William was drafted into the United States Army. After training, he was sent to Korea for one year. He served for a total of two years and then went back to work at McDonnell Aircraft, where he worked for 34-1/2 years, retiring in December of 1996. 

William was united in marriage to Mary Ruth McGowan on May 13, 1967 and to this union one son was born, Dale Lee Cox, Lloyd’s pride and joy. They moved to Japan in November 1975, close to where Mary was born and raised. William was a huge sports fanatic, as well as an avid reader who specializes in WWI History, westerns, and anything about General Custer. He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his family and friends.

William is survived by his loving wife of fifty-two years, Mary Ruth Cox of Sullivan; one son, Dale L. Cox and wife, Darlene, of Tehachapi, CA; one brother, John Cox and wife, Janet, of Gerald, MO; sisters-in-law, Loretta Elsperman of Japan, MO, and Victoria Jenkins and husband, Wallace “Butch” of Strain, MO; brothers-in-law:  James McGowan and wife, Betty, of Bourbon, MO, Ted McGowan of Japan, MO, and Charles McGowan and wife, Mary Jo, of Japan, MO; nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Lloyd Cox, Sr. and Jewell Irene (Cunningham) Cox; one brother, Wayne Cox; one half-brother, Billy Cox; and brother-in-law, Eugene Elsperman.

Funeral Services were conducted 10 a.m., Saturday, August 31, 2019 at Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was held in Crow Cemetery in Sullivan.

Visitation was held from 4:30-8 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2019 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan.

Friends may send online condolences to William’s family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.

All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan, MO.

Sullivan Independent News

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