DeValse Cox

He was born on June 28, 1939 in Ellis County, TX, and attended schools in Boyce and Waxahachie, TX. After graduating in 1957, he attended Baylor University and Arlington State University. DeValse met June Allison, his wife of 63 years, at Hillcrest Baptist Church while playing Bible Baseball in training union. They were married on December 4, 1959 and moved to Wichita Falls in 1967 with their two daughters.

Mr. Cox began his career in the insurance industry at Williams Dwyer Agency where he served as President and later retired from Barnard Insurance. He served as President of the Independent Insurance Association of Wichita Falls and the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, and as a State National Director of the Independent Insurance Agents of America. He was a founding member of the Fellowship of Christians in Insurance which met yearly to promote prayer among agents across the state.

He loved travel, wood working, and time on the golf course. He was a voracious reader and served on boards of the Boy Scouts of America, CampFire and the United Way. DeValse loved his family, his church and his friends, but mostly Jesus. Thursdays he could be found reciting memorized scripture with a group of friends over coffee. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church Wichita Falls and a long time Pastor Prayer Partner. He served as a director of a senior adult department where he taught an adult mens class.

Mr. Cox was preceded in death by his father Paul Cox, mother Charlene Cox Oglesby and stepfather, Thomas Oglesby, twin sister Valsyne Sutherlin, brother Thomas Oglesby, son-in-law Samuel Arthur Midgett, and niece Sandra Capps.

Survivors include his wife June, daughters Pam Midgett of Wichita Falls, Kelly Backhaus and husband Steve of Dallas, TX, grandsons Sam Midgett and wife Hannah of Knoxville, TN, Eddie Backhaus and wife Jessica of Richardson, TX, Will Backhaus and wife Nicole of Hewitt, TX, and granddaughter Heidi Backhaus of Dallas, great grandchildren include; Molly, Harper and Mabry Midgett of Knoxville, TN, Amelia Backhaus of Richardson, TX and Nolan Backhaus of Hewitt, TX, a niece Paula Sutherlin also survives.

A visitation for DeValse will be held Monday, April 17, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 1917 Archer City Highway, Wichita Falls, Texas 76302. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church, 1200 9th Street, Wichita Falls, Texas 76301.

DeValse is now eternally living his favorite song, Victory in Jesus.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com for the Cox family.