Coleman Lee Cox

Coleman Lee Cox, 78, of Willis passed away Friday morning, March 14, 2014 in Floyd. Born in 1935 on Horse Ridge in Floyd County he was the son of the late James Pogue Cox and Jessie Altizer Cox.

Coleman finished mechanic's school in Nashville in the early 1960s and moved to Lynchburg where, after working at Vaughn Chevrolet, he opened his own shop, Cox Auto Service, on Campbell Avenue, later moving to Waterlick Road. Coleman and his wife Eunice raised their son and two daughters in Forest.

Coleman was a farmer and a tinkerer on a large scale. Once on seeing the cost of a bale elevator he said he could build one himself out of scrap, and did! Coleman was a fiercely independent man and avid outdoorsman, fishing, hunting, and camping with his family whenever he could leave his business. He loved working in wood and building things.

After retiring in the late 1990s Coleman returned to his roots in his beloved Floyd County settling in Indian Valley. Coleman spent his retirement cattle farming, woodworking, and adding to his collection of Oliver Tractors. He enjoyed traveling and sightseeing particularly to landmarks, train shows, and community festivals with his adored companion and best friend, Gwelda Puckett Shelton of Mt. Airy, with whom he also attended Indian Grove Baptist Church in Mt. Airy

In addition to his parents Coleman was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Eunice Mitchell Cox; two brothers, Phillip Cox and Russell Cox; and an infant son, Darren Lee Cox.

In addition to Gwelda, left to cherish his memory are his son Dennis Coleman Cox, daughter-in-law Audrey, and granddaughter Stephanie of Evington; daughter Jennifer Andrea Cox of Collierstown and granddaughter Lilly Clem of Richmond; daughter Kristie Cox Horton, son-in-law Michael, and grandson Matthew of Cartersville; sisters Effie Higgins of Floyd County, Reba Wade of Christiansburg, and Glenda DeHart and brother-in-law Arnold of Bent Mountain and brothers Bernard Cox and sister-in-law Bessie of Montgomery County and Allen Cox and sister-in-law Geneva of Christiansburg; and sisters-in-law Patricia Marshall of Dugspur and Glenda Meador of Roanoke; and brother-in-law Jerry Hollandsworth of Lynchburg; many nieces and nephews; and long time traveling partners Wayne Hairfield and Jessie "Jokie" Martin of Fancy Gap and Mr. and Mrs. Doug Hubbard of Radford with whom Coleman and Gwelda explored many places in Southwest Virginia and neighboring North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

A celebration of Coleman's life will be held at Maberry Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Following the services in Floyd, family and friends are invited to visit at Coleman’s home in Indian Valley.