Walter Harold Cox

Dr. Walter Harold Cox, 91, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away on December 13, 2021. He was born in Flint, Michigan on October 24, 1930. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Personnel Specialist during the Korean War. On May 15, 1954, he married Carol Leigh Green in Owoso, Michigan.

Walter graduated from Owosso College with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He also obtained a Master’s in Counseling from Michigan State University and a Doctorate in Education from Indiana University.

After graduation, he served as Director of the Counseling and Guidance Center at Indiana University for many years. Upon moving to Alabama in 1977, he had a successful career in substance abuse counseling both in private practice and as Director of the Employee Assistance Program at UAB. Later in his career, he served as the Associate Director for Education at the Veterans Administration Southeastern Regional Medical Education Center and specialized in education benefitting POW veterans. Before retirement, he was the Executive Officer of the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Carol Leigh Green Cox; his parents, Walter Rufus and Pearl Bynum Cox of Owosso, Michigan; sons-in-law, Steve Smith and Jim Clayton; and siblings, Alvis (Eathel) Cox, Eulala (Edwin) Miller, I.D. (Edith) Cox, Norman (Verland) Cox, Doyle (Luise) Cox, and Loy Cox.

Walter is survived by his children, Shannon Cox Clayton, Arden (Jeanne) Cox, and Melanie Cox Smith; grandchildren, James (Jessica) Clayton, Brendan Clayton, Matthew Smith, Christy Gurie, Mallory Harrison, and Amos Vickers; great-grandchildren, Carol Clayton, Samuel Clayton, Leah Gurie, and Jacob Gurie; sister-in-law, Doris (Tom) Humphreys; brothers-in-law, Roy Brunett and Stewart (Cathy) Green; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Walter loved his family, his church, baseball, traveling and giant bowls of ice cream.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, December 23, 2021 at Brookview Church in Irondale, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m.