William Cox

William Cox December 26, 1927 - March 3, 2009

William E. "Ed" Cox, age 81 of Waterville, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at the Waterville Good Samaritan Center. Memorial services will be held on Sunday, March 15th at 1:30 p.m. at the Waterville Good Samaritan Center with Rev. Craig Breimhorst officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Faribault Area Hospice. McRaith Funeral Home and Crematory of Waseca is handling arrangements. William Edward was born on December 26, 1927 in Owaneco, Illinois to Loren and Freada (Kassman) Cox. Ed was a 1945 graduate from Maquon High School in Illinois. He joined the military in 1945 and was assigned to the United States Naval Reserve as a Sea Bee. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the American Area Campaign Medal. He attained the rank of Seaman 1st Class V-6, and was honorably discharged on July 16, 1946. He was the 6th son of Loren and Freada Cox to serve in WWII. Following his military service Ed married Carol Jean Gorham on December 27, 1947. He later married Dora Jean Morris on December 26, 1969. Ed was co-owner of Gorham and Cox in Douglas, Illinois and worked for WR Grace and McKeighan Seed Company, both in Douglas. He retired from the North American Salt Company as sales manager for the state of Minnesota on June 30, 1993 after 24 years of service. He worked part time for the Robert B. Hill Company after his retirement. Ed moved to Waterville, Minnesota from Illinois in 1970. He was a member of the Morristown American Legion Post #149, and the Waterville Lions Club. He liked to fish and to travel. Ed is survived by three daughters: Carolyn O''Brien of Centennial, CO, Candace Frank of Farmington, IL, and Lori Bybee of Maquon, IL; by his step-son Mark Anderson of Shady Shores, TX; by three brothers, Don Cox of Douglas, IL, Dave Cox and Larry Cox, both of Elmwood, IL; by 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; by his special friends Art and Nancy Sorgatz of Waterville. He was preceded in death by his wife Dora, who died on November 2, 2007, and by his daughter Cathryn Reese; by his stepson Mike Green, and by his 3 sisters and 6 brothers.