Orville J. Cox

On February 8th, 1942, Orville J. Cox, loving son of Owen and Helen Antonia Cox (Tony), brother to Elva Cox Kuen-stler, Curtis Cox, and David Cox, left his earthly home to join his heavenly father in paradise.

Orville was born July 17, 1922 in Haskell County, Texas. He was the oldest of his family, and worked in managing the family's farm. He enjoyed woodworking and boxing in his leisure time. He graduated from Paint Creek High School on May 13, 1940. Orville was an ambitious young man, and it was his dream to further his education after High School. On December 5th, 1940, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps from Fort Worth, Texas to pursue that dream. Orville served with the 34th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group in the Philippines when the U.S. entered World War 2. It is believed that he died in combat near Aglaloma Point during the Battle of the Points.

Orville's original resting place was in a cemetery on the Bataan Peninsula. In December of 2020, a representative from the U.S. Army HRC reached out to our family in hopes of identifying Orville through DNA analysis. Earlier this year, a family's prayers were answered when we were notified that Orville had been found. Eighty-two years later, he will be laid to rest next to his younger brother, his parents, and his other siblings. We are so grateful to the U.S. Army and Dept. of Defense for their diligent efforts and endeavors. It is these efforts that would have brought so much peace to his once grieving family. Through time served and his sacrifice, he earned the Bronze Star medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific campaign, American Defense Service, and Victory World War 2 ribbons. He is also honored on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.

His surviving family members are a niece, Gaynell Langford of Rule, niece Dr. Tamara Cox Olive of Midland, nephew Mikal Cox  of San Diego, CA, and numerous other great nieces and nephews.

His services and celebration of life will be honored Saturday, October 19th, 2024 at 10:00am, at the Willow Cemetery in Haskell, Texas, under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes, Haskell.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.smithfamilyfh.com.