Services to honor and celebrate the life of Jack Cox will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019, in the RiverCrest Chapel, Bixby. Jack passed away on Monday, December 24, 2019, in Tulsa. He was 88.
Born December 31, 1930, in Harlan, Iowa, Jack was the son of Harrell and Sylvia (Sorensen), Cox. He was also welcomed by two older sisters: Betty and Bonnie. Raised in his birth community, Jack would attend schools, in Harlan, and serve as Senior Class President. Summertime would find Jack at his grandparents’ farm where he was helpful to perform various tasks and chores. He also found employment at a local butcher shop and, from that time forward, certainly knew his cuts of meat. Upon high school graduation, Jack would join the United States Air Force.
Stationed in Northern England during the Korean War, Jack was a gunner and often talked about the model of the plane that he was on being subject to having its wings fall off. Although this happened on other planes, he was fortunate enough that it never happened to him! One of the highlights of Jack’s service was seeing Harry Truman and saluting him.
Upon his honorable discharge, Jack would live in California where he met Roberta “Bobbie” Halsne. The two hit it off and were married on June 23, 1956. They established their home in California where they began a family welcoming two children: Diane and Jack “Bill”.
To support his family, Jack worked as a long-time telephone company technician. He found employment with Pacific Bell in California and later transferred to Southwestern Bell in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, the family would live in Muskogee and Tulsa before becoming full-time residents on Ft. Gibson Lake.
In his spare time, Jack enjoyed building and flying remote control airplanes and going fishing and camping. He was also a baseball enthusiast with early ties to the California Angels, ultimately becoming a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. In addition, Jack liked watching OU football and softball; however, his favorite sports included anything that his grandsons were playing. Jack was also known to appreciate a sports car.
Described as: detailed, patriotic, and with a dry sense of humor, Jack was proud of his family and of his Country. He leaves these values to be cherished by and carried on by his family members. Those surviving include his daughter, Diane Cox; daughter-in-law, Diana Cox; grandsons: Mitchell Cox and wife, Frances and Bobby Cox; sister, Bonnie Knight, along with, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Roberta (Halsne) Cox; his sister, Betty Wiuff and his son, Jack “Bill” Cox.
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