Velma Cox

Velma Marie (Thomas) Cox, 99, of West Union, Iowa died on March 17, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society Home in West Union, Iowa.  

Velma Marie was born on Jan. 27, 1918 in Arlington, Iowa to James and Luseva (Voshell) Thomas. She lived with her Aunt, Edna Harriman, from the age of four until she was a grown up.

Velma had seven brothers, Howard, James, Arthur, Theodore, Orville, Milton “Woody” and Lyle and eight sisters, Ollie Westcott, Nellie Voshell, Dorothy Shippy Gage, Jennie Voshell, Lydia Roloff, Helen “Fern” Marquette, Hazel Marquette and Charlotte Chapman.

Velma was united in marriage to Philip M. Cox on Sept. 19, 1935 and to this union eight children were born, John “Tom”, James, Charles, Arthur, Patricia, Jerold “Jerry”, Carl and Debra.  

She enjoyed gardening, reading, crossword puzzles, find-a-word searches and watching Day Time Soaps.

Velma is survived by her six children, James Cox of Lampasas, Texas, Arthur Cox and friend, Elaine Weidemann of West Union, Iowa, Patricia McQueen and her husband, Lynn of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Jerold “Jerry” Cox and his wife, Helen of West Union, Iowa, Carl Cox of Oelwein, Iowa and Debra Larson and her husband, Rod of Postville, Iowa; 20 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Milton “Woody” Thomas and his wife, Kay and one sister, Charlotte Chapman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Cox; parents, James and Luseva (Voshell) Thomas; two sons, Charles and John “Tom” Cox; two grandsons, Daniel Cox and John Cox Jr.; three daughters-in-law, Norma Cox, Mary Cox and Geraldine Cox; six brothers, Howard, James, Arthur, Theodore, Orville and Lyle Thomas and seven sisters, Ollie Westcott, Nellie Voshell, Dorothy Shippy Gage, Jennie Voshell, Helen “Fern” Marquette and Hazel Marquette.

Visitation was held Monday, March 20, 2017 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in West Union, Iowa. There was also a one hour visitation before the funeral at the Funeral Home on Tuesday.

Funeral Service was held at 1 pm on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in West Union, Iowa with Reverend Dayna Winke as the Officiant.

Burial followed at West Union Cemetery, West Union, Iowa.

Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in West Union, Iowa helped the family with arrangements.      12u12