William DeWitt (De) Cox, of Tullahoma, passed this life on Saturday, June
30th, 2018 at NHC in Tullahoma. De was the miracle baby of Dollie
Johnston Cox and Lloyd Page Cox, delivered on Christmas Day 1928. He grew
up in Willow, Arkansas, Dyess, Arkansas (where the Coxes were a founding
family), and in Memphis, Tennessee. His natural independence and
resourcefulness led him to a series of interesting roles early in his
life which included farming, soda jerk, paper carrier, and bowling
champion. While he attended Humes High School, the car he bought with his
paper route money was one of the only cars in the parking lot each day.
He received his degree in Physical Education at Memphis State (now called
University of Memphis). De met Joy Nabors, the love of his life, at First
Methodist Church in Memphis where they were married in 1951. They had two
boys who worked and played along with him just as he imagined his
children would one day. Joy and De celebrated their 67th anniversary on
June 3 this year. De served in the Army and the Navy Reserves. While in
the Army, he ran a mess hall, experience that served him well when he was
responsible for school cafeterias as an elementary school principal in
later years. He loved children, and they returned the favor. During his
long career as a teacher, coach, and principal, De spent summers working
for the Agriculture Department measuring cotton allotments, a part time
job he continued after retiring from Shelby County Schools in 1985. His
primary job, though, was spoiling Joy. He loved to cook for her, grew the
vegetables and flowers that she loved, and delighted in traveling with
her. The Coxes moved to Tullahoma in 1994 and quickly became involved in
First United Methodist Church. De jumped right in to start the preschool
program. He taught Sunday School and served on many committees, but he
may be best known for his friendly greetings, his delicious bread, and
the dressing he made for the church’s Thanksgiving dinners. In addition
to his wife, Joy, De is survived by his sons and their wives, Mike and
Marcia, and Ted and Cindy; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A
memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in
Tullahoma on Saturday, July 7th at 2:00 PM. The family will receive
friends from noon until 2:00 PM. Memorials may be given to the Clothes
Closet at First United Methodist Church, 208 West Lauderdale Street,
Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388.
Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
