Ruth Marie Kemp-Cox

KEMP COX, Ruth Marie, 90 passed away peacefully at Covenant Village Care Center in Plantation, FL on Saturday, September 26, 2015. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, William B. Kemp (1924-2000) and husband of 10 years, John D. Cox (1926-2003). Ruth was born in Dover, Ohio to Melvin and Lillian Thompson on January 22, 1925. Ruth was a long time resident of Sea Ranch Lakes coming to Florida in 1956 with her husband who soon after started the Fort Lauderdale Auto Auction and the Palm Beach Auto Auction. She faithfully worked alongside her husband until they retired in 1985. As born again Christians, Ruth and Bill embraced the missionary work of Word of Life New York and Word of Life Portugal. They were members of First Baptist Church Fort Lauderdale and started the tape ministry for the women’s Bible Study led by Grace Chavis and the sermons of Pastor O. S. Hawkins. After the death of her husband Bill, she married long time family friend John Cox. Reverend Cox served as a Chaplin for the Holland America Cruise Line and they spent almost 10 years exploring the world through yearly cruises. Her favorite place she said was seeing the penguins in Antarctica. Although Ruth never had children of her own, she embraced two families and was called mom, mama, grama and great grama. She is survived by her adopted families; daughter Georgette and Paul Menditto, grandchildren Ruth Pippin, Jim, Anthony, (Kristina), Phillip, and Georgette Menditto and great grandchildren Isabella and Elena Menditto and daughter Joanna and Ray Mueller; grandchildren Christina (Jason), Michele (Adam), PJ (Rochelle) and Timothy (Noemi) and great-grandchildren; Megan, Caitlin, Nathan, Benjamin, Christian, Gracyn, Ellison, Madison, Gwen, Hudson, Emmerson, Cali, Jacob, Stella, Gabriel, Mateo and Kai. She is also survived by son Rev. John Cox (Cathy) and grandchildren Jaunel and Isaac. Memorial service will be at Covenant Village Care Center 9215 West Broward Boulevard Plantation, FL on Thursday, October 1st at 3:00pm in the Jacaranda Room. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Word of Life Bible Institute, Schroon Lake, New York.