Charles Victor Cox

Dec. 6, 1920 - May 20, 2009

MONTROSE — Charles Victor Cox, age 88, passed away on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at San Juan Living Center surrounded by family.

Victor was born Dec. 6, 1920 to Charles McKinley and Mary Olive (Goodman) Cox in Wray, Colo. He grew up in Wray surrounded by a large loving family who cared for and raised him and his brother after their mother died in 1929. He worked on the farm and, for a while, ran a café in Wray. 

Victor joined the Army in 1942 and served as an Army Corporal for the 3765th Quartermaster Truck Company. He served in the Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1945 on Guam and the Guadalcanal.

He married Vernice Carlock of Trenton Neb. on July 11, 1947 in Aztec N.M. Both were living in Montrose, Colo. at the time of their marriage. Their first child Elaine, was born in Montrose, and shortly after her birth, they moved to Sterling, Colo where they had another daughter, Crystall, and a son, Steve.  In 1960, they moved to Nebraska to try their hand at farming, and in 1965 moved back to Montrose where he lived until the time of his passing.

In 2002 Victor received an honorary diploma from Montrose High School as a tribute for his service to his country and accepted it alongside his grandsons Ryan Raimer and Brandon Blackburn.

In life Victor loved spending time with his family, big family dinners and family card games. He loved going camping, fishing with his children and grandchildren as much as it was possible. He also enjoyed other hobbies such as working in his wood shed creating beautiful children’s tables and hope chests along with other art that he could take to craft shows or just give to family. He also took on quilting later in life as a quieter hobby to keep him busy. He made very beautiful and warm hand knotted quilts.  Victor was a member of the VFW,  the Montrose Chapter of the BPOE Elks Lodge, a lifelong member of the American Legion and a member of Good Sams Club.

Victor leaves behind a family that loves him: his daughter Elaine Stiles and husband Lin of Montrose; his son Steve Cox and wife Sandie; his grandson Ryan Raimer, who he and Grandma raised from the age of nine after his mother, Crystall died; as well as his brothers Wayne, Rick and his sisters Alice, Pauline, Marie, Doris, Linda and Shirley.

He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren: Allen Stiles and wife Cheryl of Montrose, Barry Stiles and wife Chrissy of Montrose, Shelly Fling and husband Kevin of Houston Texas, Karen Mullin and husband John of Colorado Springs, Colo., Dan Cox and wife Amber of Durango, Colo., JoeyAlkire and wife Anna of Branson Mo., James Westergren and wife Ashley of Hotchkiss, Jean McLaughlin and husband Steve of Montrose, Jan Humphrey and husband Chad of Montrose, and John Westergren of Lakewood, Colo.; as well as his 14 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in his passing by his parents, Charles and Mary, and his stepmother, Dorothy, his wife Vernice of 62 years, and his brother Dallas Eugene, his sister Nancy Lee, as well as his daughter Crystall Raimer.

A memorial service will be held for Victor at 2 p.m. Tuesday May 26, 2009, at the Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. A viewing will be conducted the preceding day, Monday May 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.

He will then be laid to rest alongside his wife and daughter in the Grand View Cemetery.