Charles M. Cox

Charles M. Cox was born on Thursday, July 5, 1945, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was the son of Maurice V. and Alice H. (Pascal) Cox. From 1945 to 1953, Charles lived in Edison, New Jersey; 1955 to 1981, East Brunswick, New Jersey; 1981 to 1990, Ottawa, Kansas; and the past twenty years made his home in Pomona, Kansas, until his death due to a heart attack on Sunday, February 7, 2010, at the age of sixty-four years. Charles graduated from East Brunswick High School with the class of 1965 and received some college education while serving in the military. He retired from thirty years as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, twenty of those years delivering mail to residents of Ottawa. The past five plus years, he worked in security forces for the Adjutant General’s office, for the state of Kansas. Charles served in the United States Navy from September 1, 1966, to September 15, 1968, serving two tours in Vietnam with the Mobile Construction Battalion 4 of the Seabees. He also served in the Kansas National Guard, retiring as a Staff Sgt. in 2005. His commendations and medals included Army Lapel Button; Army Achievement Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2nd award); National Defense Service Medal (3rd award); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/M Device; Army Service Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal W/60 Device; and Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with Fleet Marine Combat Insignia w/1 Bronze Star. He was reactivated for Operation Iraqi Freedom, an ongoing military campaign which began on March 20, 2003, serving from May of 2003 to May of 2004 at Ft. Riley, Kansas. He was very proud of his ten plus years with the Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Department in Old Bridge, New Jersey. He was also a Boy Scouts of America Leader for Troop 11 of Milltown, New Jersey, two years; BSA Leader for Troop 63 of Wellsville, Kansas, four years; and member of Order of The Arrow Sakawawin Lodge 287. On May 31, 1976, Charles was united in marriage with Martha Elizabeth McCullough-Green in East Brunswick, New Jersey. She survives of their home. He is also survived by two sons, Mark Green of Washougal, Washington, Jesse Cox of Ottawa, Kansas; five daughters, Betsy Dysart of Ottawa, Kansas, Judy Clarke of East Brunswick, New Jersey, Suzie Hutton of Ocean, New Jersey, Emily Loperfido of Bristol, Pennsylvania, Tricia Cox of Santa Ana, California; two brothers, George Cox of South River, New Jersey, Alan Cox of Brown’s Summit, North Carolina; three grandsons, Cameron Loperfido of Morris Plains, New Jersey, Thomas McGregor of Ottawa, Kansas, Mason Clark of East Brunswick, New Jersey; and three granddaughters, Rebecca McGregor of Emporia, Kansas, Anna Dysart of Ottawa, Kansas, and Katie Dysart of Ottawa, Kansas. He is preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Shane Jay Leecy; and granddaughter, Rachael Viola McGregor. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at First United Methodist Church in Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 7:00 to 8:00 Friday evening at Dengel & Son Mortuary. The family suggests memorial contributions to Charles Cox Memorial Fund, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.