X B Cox, Jr., 99, of San Angelo passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
Funeral Service will be held at First United Methodist Church of San Angelo on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. Following the service family would like to invite friends of X B to come to the First United Methodist Church, Celebration Hall for a reception. And Burial to follow after the reception to Fairmount Cemetery.
He attended San Angelo schools and attended San Angelo Junior College, on a Massie scholarship, for one year. He entered Texas A&M in the Fall of 1933 and graduated in the Class of 1937. Upon his graduation he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. Upon his return, following the War, he was appointed to the Massie Foundation Board, on which he served for 32 years.
X B was honored as Outstanding Alumni of ASU in 1977 and in 2005 was named Golden Ex by the Alumni Foundation.
From June of 1937 until January of 1939, X B was employed as the Assistant County Agent, in charge of government farm programs in Coke and Dawson Counties. From January of 1939 until June of 1941 he was County Agricultural Agent in Scurry County.
X B was called to active duty in June of 1941, as a 1st Lt., and served until March 1946. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in August of 1942; at the time it was established, and served in the 81st Abn AA Bn. On March 25, 1945 he was promoted to be Commanding Officier of the 81st Abn AA Bn. At 29 years of age. He participated in the Normandy landings on D-Day, rode a glider into Zon, Holland for Operation Market Garden, was surrounded at Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, and was involved in combat in Germany until the American troops occupied Berchestgaden, Hitler's Eagle's Nest. From there he was sent to France to prepare troops to go to Japan but because of the dropping of the atomic bomb, he returned to the United States, in November of 1945 with the rank of Lt. Col. He was removed from active duty back to the Reserves, and promoted to Colonel in 1956, retiring from the Army in 1967, after 30 years of active and Reserve service.
During his service to his country he was highly decorated, receiving the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the EAME Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead, the Occupation Medal, American Defense Service Victory Medal, and The Order of Orange Nassau, Officer Grade with Swords, commissioned by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Croix de Guerre, the Netherlands Orange Lanyard and the Presidential Citation.
X. B. married Melba Ruth White in Bryan, Texas on November 4, 1948.
From 1946-1949 X B worked for the Wool Division, of USDA with offices in Denver, Boston, and in San Angelo.
He bought a ranch in Upton County in 1947 and ranching became his life after that time. He became a member of First United Methodist Church, in San Angelo, in 1927. X B has been active in many other affiliations, including being President of The Businessmen's Bible Class, President of the West Texas A & M Club, was President 1964-1966 of the San Angelo Stock Show Association, The Retired Officers' Assn., and a charter member of the Daniel Wood Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution, being awarded a 40 year service pin in 2008.
X B was active in the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association for over 35 years. He was awarded The Golden Spur Award for service and dedication on 2006.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one beloved grandson, X B Cox, IV (Boone), and his brother Donald D Cox. X B is survived by his wife, Melba W. Cox of San Angelo, his daughter Melba Ellen Cox Williams and her husband, Herbert E. Williams, Jr., of Kerrville, TX; his son, X B Cox, III, and his wife Kelly of Fairfax, Va.; his grandchildren, Herbert Eugene "Trey" Williams III and his wife Sandy of Wylie, TX, Sarah Elizabeth Junemann and her husband Cory of League City, TX, and Jordan Katherine Cox of Colorado Springs, CO; his great-grandsons Cameron and Mason Williams and Lex Junemann; and one nephew, Donald Boyd Cox, his wife Pat and grandniece Kim Denise Cox of San Angelo.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to Mr. Cox's doctors and his precious caregivers, Stephanie Melendez, Sylvia Montalvo, Angelica Galvan, Shelly Luchuga, and Ashley Rocha. Their care and loving support provided him with a wonderful quality of life during the past few years.
Military Honors and Pallbearers will be presented by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of San Angelo, to the X B Cox Family Scholarship c/o San Angelo Area Foundation, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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