Dates
Melba Ruth White Cox died October 2, 2023, in Kerrville, TX, at the age of 97.
Melba was the only child born to John Henry and Lula Ball White in Brazos County Texas on August 31, 1926. She attended Bryan public schools before moving to Goose Creek, where she attended Robert E. Lee High School. Returning to Bryan in 1943, she graduated from Robert E. Lee High School at 16. Melba attended Texas State College for Women, now TWU, in Denton, Texas, and graduated from McKenzie Baldwin Business College in Bryan, TX.
In August of 1943, Melba worked for the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M. She then worked for the USDA Extension Service for the Director of the 4-H Club program until she married.
Melba married XB Cox, Jr. in the First Baptist Church in Bryan, TX, on November 4, 1948. They lived in San Angelo, TX, since their marriage. They had two children, Melba Ellen Cox Williams and XB Cox, III.
Melba was the last surviving charter member of the Ruth Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church. She joined it on June 19, 1949. She was a Young Women’s Service League member at the time the San Angelo Junior League was chartered.
Melba and her friend, Cynthia Wittenburg, organized the Women’s Department of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, later called the Creative Arts Department. She worked with this department for over twenty years.
Melba was preceded in death by her parents, her husband XB, and her beloved grandson, XB Cox IV (Boone). Melba is survived by her daughter Ellen (Herby) Williams, son XB Cox III (Kelly), and grandchildren Trey Williams (Sandy), Sarah Junemann (Cory), and Jordan Peterson (Eric). Her great-grandchildren are Mason and Cameron Williams, and Lex and Liv Junemann.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the San Angelo Area Foundation for the Cox Family Scholarships. The address is 221 South Irving, San Angelo, Texas, 76903.
Melba will have an open viewing on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM at Harper Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10:30 AM at Fairmount Cemetery. A service will follow at Harper Funeral Home at 11:30 AM with a visitation to follow from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.