Kennedy B. Cox, Jr.'s Obituary
Ken passed away Wednesday May 26, 2010 surrounded by his loving family. He will leave a huge void in the lives of his adoring family, who will their best to honor his wishes to go out into the world, live life and do good works.
Ken was born in Tacoma June 29, 1922 he was the youngest son of Kennedy and Winifred Cox, his older sister Winfred was born two years earlier. When Ken was 9 his family moved to a -Å"ranch- in Edgewood; actually it was a 10 acre plot of land with a large home, barn and 5 acres planted in raspberries and apple, hazelnut and pear trees. The move was made so that his mother's parents could live with the family due hard times of the great depression and his grandfather Cummings failing health.
Ken attended Fife High School where he was active in Drama, Field & Track and Band, playing the trumpet in the band, also Yell King for the Football and Basketball team. Ken and his Dad spent many an hour building the family beach cabin on the Key Peninsula, the family still owns the waterfront property which enjoys an expansive view of Case Inlet, Heron and Hartstine Islands as well as the Olympic Mountains. After High School Ken attended Western Washington College in Bellingham for 2 years.
In 1942, after WW II was underway, Ken was called to enlist in the Navy where he was trained as a Radio Technician, being one of the early men trained on radar and radio communications between naval vessels. He was stationed in New Orleans, Florida, Panama and eventually deployed to the South Pacific. At the end of World War II his slow support ship made the long journey home from the South Pacific, it took over 30 days for them to arrive in Seattle.
During the War, in 1944, he married his high school sweetheart Elsie Carlson; they later had 3 daughters Susan, Marcia and Jill. After the War ended he returned home to college, attending the University of Washington completing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
He then began a 30 year career with Puget Sound Power and Light Company, where he moved through the ranks from Survey Crew member, Engineer to District Superintendent and eventually Vice President of Human Resources. He was a skilled negotiator and always considered to treat people with respect and fairness. He continued on after his retirement as a consultant to negotiate union contracts for the Company. Ken was transferred several times through out his career working in Auburn, Puyallup, Bellingham, Bremerton and Bellevue, Ken was always active in Rotary and other Community Service organizations throughout his career.
Ken's first wife Elsie passed after a long battle with cancer in 1970. In 1973 he married Patricia Russell. He and Pat traveled extensively during their retirement, with their small 5th wheel trailer seeing the country from coast to coast. They especially enjoyed frequent trips to along the Washington and Oregon Coast and the California Wine Country. They made several trips to Europe, traveling the UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
Ken enjoyed working in the yard, planting an annual vegetable garden, tending roses and other flowering shrubs, raking leaves and pulling weeds. He took great pride in his lawn which mowed with a push mower as long as he was able. He loved talking about his WW II days on the naval ships, especially his Panama Canal duty station.
Ken treasured time with his family and extended family being an active Grandpa to his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. He was especially fond of small children he took joy in keeping them entertained.
Ken will be dearly missed by his surviving immediate family:
Patricia Cox, wife of 37 years
Daughter-Susan Harvey and son-in-law Chuck (Anchorage, Alaska)
Grand daughter-Aimee Mills husband, Dave and sons Hayden & Carter (Anchorage, AK)
Daughter-Jill Nicks and son-in-law Jim (Poulsbo)
Grand daughter- Megan Grable and husband Rusty (Kingston)
Grand daughter -" Heidi Nicks (Poulsbo/Seattle)
Grandson- Andy Nicks (Poulsbo)
Grandson- Tony Joyce (Kingston)
Grand Daughter-Marica Kinne and husband Jason, son Jayden (Puyallup)
Step-Son-Bruce Russell and wife Vicky (Graham)
Grand Daughter-Abby Holman and husband Walter Great Grand- children Taylor, Elizabeth, and Dale (Ethridge, TN)
Step-Daughter- Gayle Arruda and son-in-law Marvin (Edgewood)
Grandson- Christopher Arruda (Olympia)
Grand Daughter- Maile Arruda (Portland, OR)
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Kennedy B. Cox Sr. and Winifred M. Cox of Edgewood, his first wife Elsie, Sister, Winifred M. Miller and daughter Marcia Cox-Joyce.
Friends and Family are invited to join Ken's immediate family for a Celebration of Life to be held at the Wesley Homes Lea Hill 32049-109th PL SE, Auburn, WA at 2 PM on Saturday June 12, 2010. A reception will follow the service at Wesley Homes Lea Hill. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a memorial donation and remembrances be made to the Alzheimer's Association at: Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or through Ken's Memorial Tribute page at www.alz.org , or the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, or the charity of your choice.
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