Robert Burnett Cox's Obituary
Robert Burnett “Bob” Cox passed peacefully in his Lakewood area home on October 30, 2014. At the time of his death he was actively engaged in bidding on a piece of antique oil field equipment to add to his collection and had happily proclaimed himself to be the “winner” to his wife and boyhood friend who were with him that morning. Bob was born June 3, 1944, in McKinney, Texas to Wilma Walker Cox and Burnett Carroll Cox while his father was serving stateside in the U.S. Navy. Bob was raised on the “M Streets” of Lakewood and attended J.L. Long and Woodrow Wilson High School. He met his wife Margaret Louise “Maggie” neé Cox while both were students at J.L. Long and they were each other’s prom dates at Woodrow. Bob and Maggie married in college. Bob received a B.B.A and B.B.S. in Finance and Banking at North Texas State University and pursued advanced graduate studies in Economics at The University of Missouri. He taught Economics at East Texas State University. Bob left his graduate studies and teaching in the early 1970s to better support his family and began working in the oil and gas industry, which became a vocation and passion for him. He worked for many years at Sun Oil Co. where he served as manager of reserves and acquisitions and the Asst. Treasurer of the Dallas-based Sun Production division. After the crisis in the oil markets of the 1980s, Bob struck out on his own, forming “Robert B. Cox Investments,” a holding company for investments in oil and gas producing properties throughout the South and Southwest. Bob was a walking “Tobin map” with an encyclopedic knowledge of domestic energy production. He was happiest taking his maps and going out in search of drilling rigs and production equipment in far-flung counties across Texas, often in the company of his dear friend Edward B. Rather, Esq., who predeceased Bob and who has been greatly missed by him ever since. Bob loved his family, friends, and country. He was known to some as “Big Chief Thundercloud” from his service as Chief of his daughter’s Indian Princess Tribe. Bob’s personal hero was Ronald Reagan, with John Wayne coming in a close second. He enjoyed watching Westerns and World War II movies. A favorite family trip was with his wife and daughter to Marfa, Texas to see the 50th Anniversary re-release of the movie “Giant” where he enjoyed meeting movie stars and watching the movie under the starlit night in Marfa. Bob was extremely passionate about national affairs. He served as President of a PAC and an area Precinct Chairman, and was also a generous supporter of Republican candidates. In 1980 he jubilantly danced at the Texas and California Ball to the music of Ray Charles as he and his family celebrated the first inauguration of President Reagan. Bob especially enjoyed putting multiple and large yard signs in his yard to indicate which candidates he was supporting. Bob is survived by his loving and always-patient wife of 49 years, Maggie Cox; his daughter Kelly Cox Bilek, of Montecito, California, and her husband Thomas E. Bilek; and his grandchildren John Douglas Bilek, Clare Walker Bilek, and Thomas Burnett Bilek. (Kelly is especially thankful of her father’s generosity in providing her with a first-class education, for investing in her a love for her country, and for always knowing when a girl needed her spirits lifted by a shopping trip to Neiman’s.) Bob is also survived by his loyal friend Capt. John Lewis, USN, who has been a constant and faithful friend and has been of great service as Bob’s health has declined. The family is especially grateful for the care offered Bob by Dr. Monique Chavez of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital who has been an exemplar of the medical profession and a kind friend to Bob and Maggie. The family is also grateful of the Emergency Department at Presbyterian who were the first to correctly diagnose Bob’s autoimmune disease after much suffering. A memorial service for Robert Cox will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 3,2014 to celebrate Bob’s life at Restland Memorial Chapel at 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas. His generosity, keen intelligence, and love for his devoted wife Maggie will be honored. The service will be lead by Mrs. Carolyn Lewis, wife of Bob’s dear friend James Lewis, and there will be a performance of Bob’s beloved Scottish bagpipe music. A private inurnment will follow at a later date when Bob will be laid to rest with his family in Celina, Texas. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75238. Any friends interested in making a donation may like to consider the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. or his grandchildren’s school, Crane Country Day School of Santa Barbara, California.
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