Grady Cox Jr.

Services for Grady L. Cox Jr., 72, of Killeen, will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Marlbobro Heights Missionary Baptist Church located at 800 R.A. Abercrombie Dr. Killeen with Dr. Shaun L. Moton officiating. Interment with full Military Honors will follow at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.
Grady Lee Cox, Jr. was born December 26, 1940, in Brighton, Alabama to the late Grady and Geneva Moton Cox. Grady was educated in the Alabama school system, graduating from Dunbar High School May 31, 1958. He was a man blessed to find what the scriptures affirm to be a good thing when he was united in holy matrimony to Warthena Baker Cox on August 1, 1970, at Fort Benning, Georgia. To this union two children were born, Julia and Patrick.

As a man of sound morals and solid convictions, Grady resolved to live no less than a fulfilling life. This was readily apparent by the decisions he made for himself and his family preserving the fruit of his and their future by his devotion to duty complemented by discipline and unwavering determination.

One of the chief principles of life embedded in his personal and philosophical persuasion was that of assuring a plan for leaving this earthly life while living respectfully and responsibly before God and man. He understood and therefore valued the reality that upon leaving this earthly realm one will undoubtedly spend eternity embracing the fruit of one of two eternal destinies. Therefore, he affirmed making peace with his eternal Maker and was readily assured that upon his time and date of deliverance, he would depart to spend eternity in Gods Divine Presence.
Less than two years after graduating from high school Grady made what would be one of the most significant investments of his life by enlisting in the United States Army on April 22, 1960 in Montgomery, Alabama. He completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
His military career would span the course of 23 years and 3 months encompassing no less than five Military Occupational Specialties. He was taught and trained to serve at the standard of a proficient Heavy Weapons Crewman, Infantry, Light Weapons, Instructor, Heavy Weapons Crewman, Tank Crewman and Senior Tank Crewman.
His tours of duty over the course of his military career were vast encompassing: a tour in Vietnam, Panama Canal Zone, Fort Benning, Georgia Schweinfurt, Germany Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Hamilton, New York before being honorably discharged at the rank of E5 on April 18, 1963. Just above two months later he reentered active duty at the rank of E5 on June 27, 1963 in Los Angeles, California. His remaining tours of duty would include him being stationed at Fort Hood, Texas Bamberg, Germany Vietnam Panama Canal Zone Fort Knox, Kentucky Aschaffenburg, Germany and El Paso, Texas.

Respecting the value of knowledge contributing to the competence of his interests and future endeavors beyond his military career he engaged in the pursuit of higher education while yet on Active Duty. The fruit of his pursuit would yield an earned Associates of Applied Science in Business Management degree from El Paso Community College. In keeping with the Seasons marching to the drumbeat of Time, resulting in no less than a Purposeful and fulfilling military career Grady honorably retired on July 15, 1983. He retired at the highest rank possible for a senior noncommissioned officer, Sergeant Major.
His awards and decorations earned after 23 years and 3 months of honorable service to his country consist of: Vietnam Service Medal National Defense Service Medal Combat Infantry Badge Republic of Vietnam Combat Medal wDevice, 5 Campaigns Bronze Star Medal Air Medal Good Conduct Medal, 5th Award Bronze Star Medal widi 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal, 2d Award Vietnam Staff Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Military Service Medal Overseas Service Medal, 3 Awards Overseas Bars, 4 Service Stripes, 7 and the Noncommissioned Officers Development Program 5.

His service and contributions stemmed well beyond the completion of his military career. He worked as a pawnbroker for 1912 years in the KilleenCopperas Cove, Texas area. He was a past member of the VFW and Elks Lodges in Parsio Canal Zone and New Albany, Indiana the Masonic Lodge Consistory, the Royal Arch Mason, and the Knights Templar in Hodgenville, Kentucky Shriner in Louisville, Kentucky and the Phylaxis Society in Washington, D.C.
Blessed to rejoice in the fruit of his earthly labor, Grady Cox departed this earthly realm in response to the loving call of the Almighty God. Among those preceding his departure from the shores of this earthly life is: three sisters, Lucy Cox, Vivian Nails, and Sheliah Overton one brother, Joe Cox and daughter, Julia Baldridge.
Among those who remain blessed by the fragrance of his earthly life and who anticipate an inevitable reunion at the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ is: a loving
wife of 42 years: Warthena Cox of Killeen, Texas one son: Patrick Brandi Cox of Killeen, Texas two daughters: Belinda Peter Pabst of Schweinfurt, Germany and Angela Cox of Birmingham, Alabama three brothers: Albert Cox of Bessemer, Alabama, Samuel Pope of Buffalo, New York, and Tony Cox of Birmingham, Alabama four sisters: Mildred Sheppard of Rochester, New York, Patricia Shavers of Buffalo, New York, Beverly Charles Cowan of Birmingham, Alabama, and Tujana Cox of Brighton, Alabama grandchildren: Felicia Johnny Hogue of Copperas Cove, Texas, Crystal Cox of San Antonio, Texas, Joniqua Alfredo Pagan of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Nina Cox of Tallahassee, Florida, Samuel Baldridge of Killeen, Texas, Antonio Baldridge of Killeen, Texas, Pascal Moran of Budesheim, Germany, and Mirjam Steglich of Budesheim, Germany nine greatgrandchildren, and a host of other family members and friends.

Visitation

HarperTalasek Chapel
506 N. 38th Street
Killeen, TX  76543
Saturday, May 4, 2013
8 am to 8 pm

Service

Funeral Service

Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist Church
800 Rev. Abercrombie Drive
Killeen, TX  76543
Monday, May 6, 2013
12:30 pm

Cemetery

Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
11463 State Highway 195
Killeen, TX  76542