March 21, 1913 - July 26, 1945
Cedarvale Cemetery
Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas

SGT Cox at Find A Grave

Staff Sergeant William Jasper “Jap” Cox, U.S. Army Air Forces [March 21, 1913 – July 26, 1945] was born to Jessie Clarence “JC” Cox [November 26, 1889 – November 9, 1959] and Rachael “Ray” Eliza (Manuel) Cox [June 30, 1891 – July 1, 1988] at Hamilton County, Texas.  His father went to work at the Gulf Sulphur Plant at Gulf, Texas in 1919 when it first began producing sulphur, and when the plant moved to Boling, Texas in 1928 the Cox family moved with it, and settled in Iago, Texas.  He was a graduate of Boling High School. William joined the U.S. Army Air Force on June 14, 1942 and trained at Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, Texas.  Following this he served three years in the Pacific Theater, in Australia and New Guinea. He returned to the United States on March 13, 1945 and spent his furlough at home with his family in Iago.  On July 26, 1945 he was a passenger on a train enroute from Virginia to Brooklyn, NY; the train was involved in a serious accident in New York state which resulted in his death. He was returned to Newgulf on July 31^st, where funeral services were held at the Newgulf Methodist Church, followed by interment at Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City, Texas. Survivors included  his parents, J. C. and Ray; brother, Deward; and sisters, Joyce, Alma and Jessie. Even though William was not a Matagorda County death, we are proud to honor his service by including him among our honored war dead.
 

William J. Cox Killed In Train Accident

S/Sgt. William J. Cox, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Cox of Newgulf, known affectionately by his many friends in Newgulf and vicinity by the nickname “Jap” (a pre-Pearl Harbor appellation) was killed in a train accident at 7:00 p. m. July 26, 1945, while enroute between an unnamed point in Virginia and Brooklyn, N.Y.  No other details were reported in the War Department message received by his parents on the morning of July 27^th.  His body arrived in Newgulf under military escort Tuesday morning, July 31^st, and funeral services were held at the Newgulf Methodist Church at three o’clock that afternoon with Rev. L. F. Brothers in charge.  Burial was at Bay City.

Sgt. Cox served three years in the Pacific, mostly in New Guinea, and returned home on furlough March 13, 1945.  He celebrated his 32^nd birthday with his family and friends in Newgulf on March 21^st.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by one brother, Deward and three sisters, Mrs. W.W. Wynn, Jr., Mrs. C.D. Sally and Mrs. Harman Scheller.

Sulfurcrats News Items  The Wharton Spectator, Wharton, Texas August 3^rd, 1945

IAGO NEWS
 

Our deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs. Billy Wynn, Jr., Mrs. C.D. Sally, Jr., and other members of their families in the death of their brother, S/Sgt. Jasper (“Jap”) Cox, of Newgulf, who was killed in an accident in New York last week. 

“Jap” was home only recently, after three years service overseas, and a family reunion was held in his honor. 

The Wharton Spectator, Wharton, Texas August 3^rd, 1945

Texas Gulf Personnel Has Enviable War Service Record
Newgulf's Gold Star Honor Roll

S/Sgt. William J. Cox--Killed in train accident in the eastern United States on July 26, 1944, after having served three years in the Pacific. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cox. His father has been employed in the field department of the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company since February 1, 1919, and is now Sulphur Well Foreman.

100th Anniversary Edition of the Matagorda County Tribune, August 23, 1945
 

Jesse Clarence and Rachael Eliza Manuel Cox
 

COX

Graveside services for Ray M. Cox, 97, of Iago were held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City with the Rev. Oliver Southall officiating.

Mrs. Cox was born June 30, 1891, in Mills County, Texas, and died July 1, 1988, at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton.

She was a resident of Iago for 40 years and a member of the Iago Federated Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Joyce C. Wynn of Boling and Alma Jewell Gossett of Rosenberg; a daughter-in-law, Alyne Cox of Matagorda; five grandchildren, Billie Charles Wynn of Friendswood, Raymond Cox of Matagorda, Judy Cox of Pearland, Alma Ray Humphrey of Houston and Terry Salley of Indianapolis, Ind.; nine great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

The daughter of Henry Allen Manuel and Nancy Anna Ball, Mrs. Cox was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two daughters and two sons.

Arrangements with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, July 3, 1988
 

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved

HOME