Charles Cox Obituary

Charles R. Cox

God turned off one of St. Simons Island's favorite bright lights before dawn on May 17, 2022, when He took Charlie Cox home from Hospice of the Golden Isles.

During the months leading to that day, the day Charlie's soul rose to its reward and defeated cancer and pain, Charlie withstood the disease. He resisted cancer's every physical and emotional assault like the Marine he once was and now always will be. His weapons were courage, grace, good humor behind a wry smile, and an iron will. Charlie wielded them all well, especially when he had a 12-ounce bottle of Yuengling Beer in one hand and his four-legged companions, Malcolm, then Bella, by his side. Charlie spent his early life in Hartford, Conn., attending and graduating from both Catholic and public schools. He joined the Marine Corps after earning an AA degree in accounting. That was a period he later cryptically deemed "interesting." He began a 30-year career with Combustion Engineering in 1960 and took classes at the University of Hartford at night, graduating in 1969. He then entered a corporate nomadic world, living and working in managerial positions in Cleveland, Ohio, Belleville, N.J., Mobile, Ala., and Charlotte, N.C.

A stint as a dry cleaning company owner followed. Charlie called it "The biggest mistake of my life," sold his interest, and soon assisted his friend Cheryl Kortovich's administration of the Proctor Patterson Trust. Upon her passing, Charlie assumed the role of administrator. It was a job he loved, one he could do from anywhere, and allowed him to stay in touch with old friends and business acquaintances. He served the trust until his health and failing eyesight would no longer allow him to do so.

Charlie loved his family and they loved him. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Michelli Cox; and grandsons, Raymond and Theodore; daughter, Mackenzie Cox and her fiancé, Jesse Henry; and Charlie's children's mother and his former spouse, Linda Cox. Charlie's sister Liz Palazzo; dear friend Jo Aldred; and four-legged devoted companion, Bella, survive him as well.

Anyone desiring to memorialize Charlie with a charitable donation can do so at Hospice of the Golden Isles, the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, where he adopted Bella, or their charity of choice.

Charlie elected cremation instead of burial.

There will be a memorial for family and close friends.

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, June 2, 2022