Willard Cox
Visitation will start at 2 p.m., followed by a short funeral service at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph. Pastor Kathy J. Murphy will officiate. Burial and military rites will follow in Stearns Fithian-Muncie Cemetery.
Willard was born May 5, 1928, in Urbana Township, the son of Elmer Daniel and Olive Edith Cox.
He attended elementary school in Sidney, and graduated from Pontiac Township High School. In 1952, Mr. Cox received an honorable discharge from the Army after serving in the Korean Conflict, where he served in the infantry repairing military tanks and trucks.
He retired from the University of Illinois, where he met his wife of 46 years, Dorothy M. Cox, who passed away on Dec. 20, 2012.
Willard was also preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Delores Weber and Lois Brownfield; his brother, Wayne Cox; and one great-grandchild.
Survivors include two stepsons, Donnie K. Harlan (Tina) of Estero, Fla., and Bobby C. Harlan of Ogden; one stepdaughter, Sandra Osterbur (Randall) of Urbana; and five granddaughters, Deanna Burgess of Urbana, Melinda Shafer (Chris) of Troy, Valerie No of St. Louis, Mo., and Kimberly Walden (Mike, deceased) and Kelly Kuchefski (Eric), both of Urbana; and five great-grandchildren.
Willard was known for having a hammer, nail or shovel handy and was able to realize his lifelong dream of building his own home.
The family is grateful to the staff at Heartland Healthcare Center for their care, kindness and compassion shown to Willard and his family during his time there.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
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