Austin Howeth Cox, Sr., Crisfield’s last surviving D-Day veteran, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2015 at his home. He was 95.
Born in Crisfield on December 15, 1919, he was the eighth child of the late Wesley Robert “Capt. Wes” Cox and Margaret Julia “Maggie” Howeth Cox.
At age 15, his mother enrolled him in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) until joining the National Guard Company L 115th Infantry 29th Infantry Division. He also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad until war was declared and he was deployed to Europe. He fought in four campaigns including Normandy, where he was in the second wave on Normandy Beach, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
Upon returning to the US, he learned his trade and founded Cox Plumbing and Heating in 1947 at which he was president until 1988 when his son, Austin, received the reins.
His memberships included St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marion where he served on the Vestry, oldest living member of Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044, Past Commander and oldest living member of American Legion Post #16, Crisfield Fire Department, Master Plumbers Association, Crisfield Heritage Foundation where he was a volunteer and established “Cox’s Shanty”, Great Hope Golf Course, Crisfield Country Club, former Striped Bass Club, instrumental in forming the former girls softball “Lassie League”, and also served formerly as a Crisfield City Councilman.
Always open to adventure, he enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, traveling, and golfing. He was proud of his Crisfield heritage and military experience and was always willing to share with others; he never knew a stranger. However, without a doubt, his greatest joy in life was being with his family.
He is survived by his bride of 72 years, Jean Headley Cox, whom he married in London, England in 1943; children, Christine Tyler and husband Lex, Sandra Johnson and husband Phil, Julia Cox, Austin Cox, Jr. and wife Neda, and Elizabeth Powers and husband Harry; son-in-law, Paul Emely; grandchildren, Toby Tyler and wife Elizabeth, Katy Tyler, Wesley Tyler and wife Michele, Nathan Tawes and wife Teresa, Jennifer Griffith, Stephanie Johnson. Christy Emely, Erik Emely and wife Jamie, Stephen Emely and wife Kim, Heather Insley and husband Sam, Chelsea Eskridge and husband Nick, Hunter Cox, Christopher Owens, Elice Cuff, and Rebecca Faunce; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah Emely; granddaughter, Megan Johnson; two brothers; and six sisters.
A celebration of his life officiated by Father Mike Lokey will be Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1 PM at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield where a visitation will be two hours prior. Urn interment with full military honors will follow at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733; or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, c/o Martin Atkins, 26417 Silver Lane, Crisfield, MD 21817.
Born in Crisfield on December 15, 1919, he was the eighth child of the late Wesley Robert “Capt. Wes” Cox and Margaret Julia “Maggie” Howeth Cox.
At age 15, his mother enrolled him in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) until joining the National Guard Company L 115th Infantry 29th Infantry Division. He also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad until war was declared and he was deployed to Europe. He fought in four campaigns including Normandy, where he was in the second wave on Normandy Beach, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
Upon returning to the US, he learned his trade and founded Cox Plumbing and Heating in 1947 at which he was president until 1988 when his son, Austin, received the reins.
His memberships included St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marion where he served on the Vestry, oldest living member of Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044, Past Commander and oldest living member of American Legion Post #16, Crisfield Fire Department, Master Plumbers Association, Crisfield Heritage Foundation where he was a volunteer and established “Cox’s Shanty”, Great Hope Golf Course, Crisfield Country Club, former Striped Bass Club, instrumental in forming the former girls softball “Lassie League”, and also served formerly as a Crisfield City Councilman.
Always open to adventure, he enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, traveling, and golfing. He was proud of his Crisfield heritage and military experience and was always willing to share with others; he never knew a stranger. However, without a doubt, his greatest joy in life was being with his family.
He is survived by his bride of 72 years, Jean Headley Cox, whom he married in London, England in 1943; children, Christine Tyler and husband Lex, Sandra Johnson and husband Phil, Julia Cox, Austin Cox, Jr. and wife Neda, and Elizabeth Powers and husband Harry; son-in-law, Paul Emely; grandchildren, Toby Tyler and wife Elizabeth, Katy Tyler, Wesley Tyler and wife Michele, Nathan Tawes and wife Teresa, Jennifer Griffith, Stephanie Johnson. Christy Emely, Erik Emely and wife Jamie, Stephen Emely and wife Kim, Heather Insley and husband Sam, Chelsea Eskridge and husband Nick, Hunter Cox, Christopher Owens, Elice Cuff, and Rebecca Faunce; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah Emely; granddaughter, Megan Johnson; two brothers; and six sisters.
A celebration of his life officiated by Father Mike Lokey will be Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1 PM at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield where a visitation will be two hours prior. Urn interment with full military honors will follow at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733; or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, c/o Martin Atkins, 26417 Silver Lane, Crisfield, MD 21817.
Austin Howeth Cox, Sr., Crisfield’s last surviving D-Day veteran, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2015 at his home. He was 95.
Born in Crisfield on December 15, 1919, he was the eighth child of the late Wesley Robert “Capt. Wes” Cox and Margaret Julia “Maggie” Howeth Cox.
At age 15, his mother enrolled him in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) until joining the National Guard Company L 115th Infantry 29th Infantry Division. He also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad until war was declared and he was deployed to Europe. He fought in four campaigns including Normandy, where he was in the second wave on Normandy Beach, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
Upon returning to the US, he learned his trade and founded Cox Plumbing and Heating in 1947 at which he was president until 1988 when his son, Austin, received the reins.
His memberships included St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marion where he served on the Vestry, oldest living member of Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044, Past Commander and oldest living member of American Legion Post #16, Crisfield Fire Department, Master Plumbers Association, Crisfield Heritage Foundation where he was a volunteer and established “Cox’s Shanty”, Great Hope Golf Course, Crisfield Country Club, former Striped Bass Club, instrumental in forming the former girls softball “Lassie League”, and also served formerly as a Crisfield City Councilman.
Always open to adventure, he enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, traveling, and golfing. He was proud of his Crisfield heritage and military experience and was always willing to share with others; he never knew a stranger. However, without a doubt, his greatest joy in life was being with his family.
He is survived by his bride of 72 years, Jean Headley Cox, whom he married in London, England in 1943; children, Christine Tyler and husband Lex, Sandra Johnson and husband Phil, Julia Cox, Austin Cox, Jr. and wife Neda, and Elizabeth Powers and husband Harry; son-in-law, Paul Emely; grandchildren, Toby Tyler and wife Elizabeth, Katy Tyler, Wesley Tyler and wife Michele, Nathan Tawes and wife Teresa, Jennifer Griffith, Stephanie Johnson. Christy Emely, Erik Emely and wife Jamie, Stephen Emely and wife Kim, Heather Insley and husband Sam, Chelsea Eskridge and husband Nick, Hunter Cox, Christopher Owens, Elice Cuff, and Rebecca Faunce; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah Emely; granddaughter, Megan Johnson; two brothers; and six sisters.
A celebration of his life officiated by Father Mike Lokey will be Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1 PM at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield where a visitation will be two hours prior. Urn interment with full military honors will follow at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733; or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, c/o Martin Atkins, 26417 Silver Lane, Crisfield, MD 21817.
Born in Crisfield on December 15, 1919, he was the eighth child of the late Wesley Robert “Capt. Wes” Cox and Margaret Julia “Maggie” Howeth Cox.
At age 15, his mother enrolled him in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) until joining the National Guard Company L 115th Infantry 29th Infantry Division. He also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad until war was declared and he was deployed to Europe. He fought in four campaigns including Normandy, where he was in the second wave on Normandy Beach, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
Upon returning to the US, he learned his trade and founded Cox Plumbing and Heating in 1947 at which he was president until 1988 when his son, Austin, received the reins.
His memberships included St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marion where he served on the Vestry, oldest living member of Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044, Past Commander and oldest living member of American Legion Post #16, Crisfield Fire Department, Master Plumbers Association, Crisfield Heritage Foundation where he was a volunteer and established “Cox’s Shanty”, Great Hope Golf Course, Crisfield Country Club, former Striped Bass Club, instrumental in forming the former girls softball “Lassie League”, and also served formerly as a Crisfield City Councilman.
Always open to adventure, he enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, traveling, and golfing. He was proud of his Crisfield heritage and military experience and was always willing to share with others; he never knew a stranger. However, without a doubt, his greatest joy in life was being with his family.
He is survived by his bride of 72 years, Jean Headley Cox, whom he married in London, England in 1943; children, Christine Tyler and husband Lex, Sandra Johnson and husband Phil, Julia Cox, Austin Cox, Jr. and wife Neda, and Elizabeth Powers and husband Harry; son-in-law, Paul Emely; grandchildren, Toby Tyler and wife Elizabeth, Katy Tyler, Wesley Tyler and wife Michele, Nathan Tawes and wife Teresa, Jennifer Griffith, Stephanie Johnson. Christy Emely, Erik Emely and wife Jamie, Stephen Emely and wife Kim, Heather Insley and husband Sam, Chelsea Eskridge and husband Nick, Hunter Cox, Christopher Owens, Elice Cuff, and Rebecca Faunce; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah Emely; granddaughter, Megan Johnson; two brothers; and six sisters.
A celebration of his life officiated by Father Mike Lokey will be Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1 PM at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield where a visitation will be two hours prior. Urn interment with full military honors will follow at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733; or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, c/o Martin Atkins, 26417 Silver Lane, Crisfield, MD 21817.
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