Robert Alton Cox Jr.

Robert Alton Cox Jr, 78, entered Heaven's Gates March 27 following a courageous battle with kidney disease. Robert was born in Wilson County but grew up in Greene County. He was the son of the late Robert Alton Cox and Myrtle Lee Jones Cox. He graduated from Walstonburg High School. He served two years in the U.S. Army, spending time in SC, Germany for one year, and Fort Ord, CA. He moved to Raleigh in 1956 to attend NCSU.

Robert worked for thirteen years with Tire Sales and Service/Thomas Woods as a TBA Salesman in Wake and surrounding counties. In 1970, he became owner of Western Blvd Shell Service which he later changed to Western Blvd Exxon Service. In 1978, he also owned and operated Oak Park Texaco on Glenwood Ave. He spent thirty years serving West Raleigh, retiring in 2000. Robert took a personal interest in his customers. He considered them friends, always inquiring about their parents and/or families. His son, Bob, assumed ownership and continues to operate the business as Cox Car Care.

Music was always an important part of his life. He had a strong bass voice and enjoyed singing. He was always a member of his church choir. He was also a member of the Capital Area Community Chorus and he sang with Paul Conway's group at Hillyer Christian Church several years. He was a member of Sunset Hills Christian Church from 1957 to 1986 where he served as Deacon and Elder. He was a member at Saint Pauls Christian Church from 1986 to 1996, again serving as Deacon and Elder. He was also active in the Christian Men's Fellowship serving in leadership roles on the local, district and state level. In 1996, he became a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and has served as Deacon in that church family.

Robert is survived by his wife of fifty seven years, Marilu Burch Cox, his high school sweetheart. They are the parents of three children: daughter, Luanne Cox Moore and husband, Eric, of Raleigh; son, Robert Alton Cox III (Bob) and wife, Debbie, of Raleigh; son, Donald Burch Cox and wife, Laura, of Raleigh. He was the extremely proud grandfather of seven; Erin Moore Driver and husband, Louis, of Smithfield; Lauren Moore Wienke and husband, Jason, of Midlothian, VA; Robert Jared Moore of Raleigh: Krystina Lynn Cox of Raleigh; Johnathan Blake Cox of Wilmington; Joshua Burch Cox and Mary Kaitlyn Cox of Raleigh. His great-grandson, Jonathan Louis Driver brought him incredible joy.

Also, surviving are one sister, Ann Cox Morgan of Cary; a brother, William Henry Cox and wife, Edith, of Wilson and brother-in-law, Robert B. Hicks, of Walstonburg. There are many nieces and nephews who were very special to him.

A service celebrating his life will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 4 PM.

The family will receive guests prior to the service from 2 PM to 4 PM.

A graveside service will be in the Walstonburg Cemetery on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Macedonia Baptist Church; 7100 Holly Springs Road, Raleigh, 27616 or to Hospice of Wake County; 250 Hospice Circle Raleigh, 27607.