Thomas Cox

Thomas Cox, 79, of Echo Vale Drive, Bedford, died Monday, July 18, 2011 at the Altoona Hospital.  He was born April 30, 1932, son of the late A. Smith and Mazie Louise (Givens) Cox.  On August 21, 1954 in Aliquippa, he married Bertha M. “Wendy” Kerlin and she survives along with a son Thomas Cox, and a daughter Deborah Dawn wife of David Stellfox, both of Bedford.  Also surviving are four grandchildren; Lori Ann wife of Andrew Shields, of Newville, Steven M. Cox and wife Karen, (Rebar) of California, PA, SSGT. Jeremiah D. Stellfox and wife Melissa (Prasenski) of Glen Burnie, MD, and SGT. Zachary Stellfox, of New Bern, NC, and seven great grandchildren; Heather, Rachel, Alan, Rebecca, Matthew, Elsee Shields and Julia Cox, one sister Barbara Malackovich of Aliquippa. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter Jennifer Cox.

Mr. Cox graduated from Aliquippa High School in 1950 and attended the Univ. of Pittsburgh from 1952 to 1954 and Penn State in Altoona from 1982 to 1984.  From 1950 to 1957 he worked as a Checker and Chief Turn Clerk at Seamless Tube Division of J & L, Steel in Aliquippa, from 1954 to 1959 was an assistant manger for Beaver Falls and New Castle offices of Household Finance Corp. and from 1959 to 1962 as an investigator for the company.  From 1962 to 1969 he served as District Scout Executive for Mercer County Council, and the Blair Bedford Council serving Bedford and half of Blair County from 1965 to 1968.  From 1969 to 1987 he was the Production and Inventory Controller and Foreman at the Bedford Plant of Westinghouse Electric Corp, retiring on disability due to a serious heart condition.  He enlisted the Marine Corps Reserves in June of 1950 and was called to active duty in September of the same year.  He served with the 81 mm Mortar Platoon Weapons Co. 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. from April 1951 until May of 1952.  During the Korean War he served as a forward observer with Item Company 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment.  He received the Korean Service Medal with 3 Battle Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon, Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.  Mr. Cox was a life member of 1st Marine Div. Assoc, a life member of Fort Bedford VFW Post 7527 where he served as Surgeon and Chaplain.  He was a life member of Bedford County Detachment 675 Marine Corps League S. W. Division Dept. of PA and served as chaplain and adjutant/paymaster.  Senior Vice Commandant, Junior Vice Commandant, Commandant, JR. Past Commandant assistant Vice Commandant S.W. Div. Dept of PA Marine Corps League.  He was also a member of Bedford American Legion Post 0113, and held various positions in scouting as a volunteer.

Funeral Services: Friday, July 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church in Bedford with Rev. Raymond E. Short officiating.  Burial at Bedford County Memorial Park with military rites conducted by the Fort Bedford Honor Guard and the United States Marine Corps.  Friends will be received on Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m. at the Timothy A. Berkebile funeral home in Bedford, and 1 hour prior to the service on Friday morning at the Church.   In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bedford Trinity Lutheran Church, 106 W. Penn St. Bedford, PA  15522, or the Veterans Administration Home, P. O. Box 319, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, where he had been a resident for the past month.  Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.