Robert Earl Cox, Sr.

Robert Earl "Colonel" Cox, Sr., 78, of Springfield died on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. Bob was born July 11, 1930 in Greensburg, KY the sixth of nine children of Thomas B. "Doodle" Cox and Ada Lee Chaney Cox. His father was a sharecropper (tenant farmer), raising corn, hay, tobacco and some cattle. In 1948 Bob left Kentucky for Illinois where he lived with an aunt in Springfield and graduated from Lanphier High School. He began employment at Allis-Chalmers as a machine operator in July 1948 and enlisted as a Private in the Illinois Army National Guard in September 1949. Bob had also met Gloria E. Mercurio of Belleville, who was a student at St. John's Nursing School in Springfield. They were married in 1951 during the Korean War, and Bob was called to active duty and stationed in California where they had their first child. They returned to Springfield in December of 1952 when he was discharged from active duty. They both continued with their careers: Gloria with Nursing and Bob as an Inspector for Allis Chalmers. They had four more children together before they divorced in 1977. Bob and Gloria remained good friends until her death in 2006 In 1953 he rejoined the National Guard. Bob received many medals and awards and was promoted throughout his career. He was appointed Inspector General of the Illinois Army National Guard in September 1982 and promoted to the rank of Colonel in July 1983. Colonel Cox retired as a Brigadier General in July 1988 after serving more than thirty-seven years in the Illinois Army National Guard. In spite of his promotion to Brigadier General, he remained "Colonel Cox" to his friends Bob retired from Fiat Allis as Inspection Forman Quality Assurance in 1983 with 35 years service. In his spare time, Bob became a successful realtor for Tom Hamilton and Julie Davis. He was a member of the American Society for Quality Control, Fiat Allis Management Club, National Guard Association of Illinois and the National Guard Association of the United States. Bob was a big NASCAR fan. He would often go to the Springfield Mile motorcycle races and stock car races. His favorite drivers were A.J. Foyt and Jeff Gordon. He absolutely loved racing and automobiles. Most winters he would spend in Florida with Gloria and family. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers: William Neal Cox, Thomas Brown Cox, Jr., James Madison Cox, Lesley Cox, Joseph Hart Cox; and one sister; Sue Carolyn Vance. He is survived by three sons: Robert E, Jr. (wife, Lori) of FL, Jeffrey J. (wife, Nancy) of CA, and Gregory P. of FL; two daughters: Cynthia M. Gilespie of FL and Lucia M. (husband, James) Fox of NE; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister: Rosella Stotts of KY; one brother: Harold Cox of KY and many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the time of funeral ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Burial will follow in Camp Butler National Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 116 Springfield, Illinois 62705-0116.