He is preceded in death by parents, William Cad and Dicie Blevins Cox; father and mother in law, Wallace and Ida Ruth Little Orren; brothers, W.C. Jr, Herman (Evelyn), James (Betty), Jackie, and Jerry (Lorna) Cox; brothers in law, Larry Orren and Roy Neil Range; sisters, Mary Cox and Ruby (Percy) Sweet; sister in law, Patsy Orren Range; daughter in law, Lenora Russell Cox; and infant grandsons, Daniel and Seth Cox.
Luther is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nancy Orren Cox; a son, Danny L. Cox; a daughter, Susan (Jason) Carter; and grandchildren, Eric (Katie) Carter, Vanessa Cox, and Evan (Kaylen) Carter; those who called him “Papaw or Pappers”; nephews, Ricky and Michael Sweet, Wayne, Alan, Joe, Steve, and Gary Cox, and Robert and Scott Range; nieces, Cindy Fay, Rachel Cox, and Kathy Garner.
Luther graduated from Happy Valley High School in 1964. While there, he was on the basketball and track team and held various class offices. He attended ETSU and in 1966 began working for Eastman Chemical Company. In 2020, he retired as Principal Shift Leader in the Coal Gasification Department.
His favorite hobby became golf. He loved playing with his Central Community Christian Church buddies and friends from other churches who became “brothers” to him. He also had the honor to play with family and co-workers. One of his favorite outings was a monthly breakfast with friends and relatives from the Cedar Grove community where he was born and grew up.
Faith and family became his life. He became a Christian as a young man at Buffalo Valley Christian Church, and in 1965, became a member of Central Community Christian Church where he was honored to serve for 61 years. He felt God blessed him with his family, especially his children and grandchildren with whom he enjoyed vacations at the beach and holidays at amusement parks, and the may ball games over the years.
The family would like to thank our neighbors, church families, co-workers, extended families, close friends, and classmates for their kindness and love over the years. We would especially like to recognize the many people at JCMC who cared and provided comfort for him and his family in the last days and those that considered him an amazing man.
A Celebration of Life for Luther will be held this fall at Central Community Christian Church.
