Dr. Donald William Cox passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at the age of 86. He will forever be remembered in the hearts of his family and friends.
Don was born in Carrollton, Ohio on August 20, 1931, to Donald and Mary Cox. Following the death of his mother, shortly after birth, Don was lovingly raised by his father and stepmother, Zora. He also spent many fond summers with his grandparents on their farm.
Following high school graduation, Don completed his Bachelor’s degree from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where his high school sweetheart, Jane Teets, also completed her nursing degree. Immediately following graduation, Don and Jane married and began their lives together in Washington, D.C., where Don had been accepted into the medical program at George Washington University.
Following graduation in 1957, and the birth of two sons, Don enlisted in the US Army Medical Corps, serving from 1956 to 1977. During that time, the family was stationed in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Panama, and eventually Washington State. Don retired at the rank of Colonel as Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.
Following his retirement from military service, Don continued his career as a Professor and Chairman of West Virginia University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He retired from medicine in October of 1995. Shortly thereafter, Don and Jane relocated to Venice, Fla., where they could enjoy year-round sun and warmth.
Family was very important to both Don and Jane. With their children’s families located in different states across the country, Don made it a priority for over 20 years to secure a summer beach house large enough to accommodate all children and grandchildren so that memories spent together could continue to be made. What fun everyone had swimming, laughing, cooking and building memories together.
Don was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Venice, Fla., where he served on the vestry for three years and served as treasurer for two years. He was also a member of Masonic Temple Lodge 301 and the Venice Shrine Club, where he served as treasurer and was voted Shriner of the Year in 2006.
Don was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Jane Louise (Teets) Cox and grandson, Ryan Michael Cox.
He is survived by his children, Donald “Jeff” (Cathy) Cox of Venice, Fla., Gary (Gina) Cox of Walla Walla, Wash., Steven (Becky) Cox of Morgantown, and Suzanne (Judson) Reamy of Hilton Head, S.C.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Venice, at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, May 23 ,with Internment to follow at Venice Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation (online contributions at e-mail: www.parkinson.org, or checks may be mailed directly to: The Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE First Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131).
