Luther M. Cox

Rev. Cox was born March 29, 1922 in Kinta, Oklahoma to Argus Houston Cox and Goldia Almeta Jones. He was the fifth of their eight children; all who proceeded him in death with the exception of his sister, Imogene Cox Hutchison, who lives in Delaware. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Sybil (Wasson) Cox.

Luther told his friends and family, “I was confused about how to trust Jesus until a man at church put his arms around my shoulder and said, “Luke, all you have to do is, ‘Believe on the Lord and you shall be saved’.” Luther believed, was baptized in San Bois Creek near Kinta, then “surrendered to preach that message”. At 17, he preached on alternate Sundays for two small churches. Each Sunday, he was paid $7.50 cash. Luther said, “Sometimes $7.50 wouldn’t come in when the offering plate was passed so I would give my tithe of 75 cents and it would usually come even.”

To prepare himself for ministry Luther started classes at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was 19 years old and in his dorm room on Sunday, December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He volunteered for the Army Air Corp and became a pilot.

Luther went to flight school in Big Springs, TX and Altus, OK, training on the PT-19 and BT-13. His sister, Imogene, supported the war effort working at Spartan Aviation in Tulsa. Imogene introduced him to her co-worker, Miss Sybil Wasson. Luther and Sybil fell in love and were soon married. Luther had just received orders to fly the B-24 Liberator, when the war ended. He went back to school graduating from both OBU and Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He then pastored churches for over 50 years in Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming:

West Fairview Baptist – Kinta, OK

Lona Valley Baptist – Kinta, OK

First Baptist – Whitefield, OK

Burneyville Baptist – Marietta, OK

First Baptist – Hastings, OK

First Baptist – Tipton, OK

First Baptist – Holdenville, OK

Temple Baptist – Salida, CO

Crowell Heights Baptist – Tulsa, OK

Classen Blvd Baptist – Oklahoma City, OK

First Southern Baptist – Casper, WY

First Baptist – Evergreen, CO

South Wadsworth Baptist – Littleton, CO

Central Baptist – Muskogee, OK

First Baptist – Cashion, OK

Temple Baptist – Coyle, OK

First Baptist – Arcadia, OK

As a result of Rev. Cox’s preaching, hundreds of folks heard the Gospel, were saved and baptized. His sons say, “Dad taught us to love the Lord. Mom taught us to love the church.”

Luther lived almost 96 years enjoying hot coffee, fried chicken, grilled cheese sandwiches, Hostess Ding Dongs and the famous Cox recipe for Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. A few weeks before he passed, family gathered around his bedside. He rallied for a few days, recognized family and with a twinkle in his eye he said, “What’s going on here? Did somebody die?”

A few weeks later he went to Jesus, and surely with sweet Sybil by his side, continues his praises, “This is my story . . . This is my song . . . Praising my Savior, all the day long.”

Luther is survived by his sister, Imogene Cox Hutchison, 4 sons; Bruce and Marilyn Cox, David Cox, Gary and Jennifer Cox, Bill and Cathy Cox, 9 grandchildren; Christi and Steven McConnell, Bradley and Farah Cox, Kelsey and Scott Sweger, Mary Ellen Cox, Schaeffer and Marti Cox, Nathan and Kaitlin Cox, Grady and Lorene Cox, Michelle and Lee, James and Rachel, and 17 great grandchildren; Brycen, Jarret, Brookelyn, Meredith, Camille, Kasey, Samuel, Seth, Bri, Cyrus, Maya, Lucy, Titus, Jacob, Nora, Annelise and Lyla James.

A visitation will be held at Baggerley Funeral Home, March 15 from 8am to 8pm, with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7pm.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church, Edmond, Oklahoma on Friday, March 16 at 10 am. Burial will follow at Gracelawn Cemetery in Edmond.

The extended Cox family would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the staff at the Veterans Center in Lawton, Oklahoma for their compassion and loving care.