Willard Raymond "Ray" Cox

On the morning of 28 December 2025 Raymond Cox looking forward to the open arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus entered the gates of Heaven. Born of Humble beginnings in Barboursville, WV July 30, 1937 to James Willard Cox and Jessie Baumgardner Cox. He is survived by his youngest son Randall Ray Cox Talladega, AL, oldest sister Ida Virginia Pitt of Louisville, KY and his youngest brother Wayne Cox Bakersfield, CA. He is predeceased by his Wife, Dwila Cox and oldest son, James Dennis Cox, brothers; Keith Cox and Gordon Lee Cox, sisters; Petie Baumgarder, Marian Metz and Eva Burts. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was a graduate of Point Pleasant High School Class of 1955. He served on the Alumni Committee for several years and stayed in touch with many of his classmates. Throughout his years he held many jobs from working on a tugboat named Oliver C Shearer on the Ohio, Kanawha and the Mississippi River, Goodyear Apple Grove, West Virginia, American Hard Rubber in Akron, Ohio, Robbins Drills / Joy Manufacturing, Pinson Valley, AL and his most prized profession Industrial Components Company a dream he and his son Randall started in 1985 and he worked with it until 2007. While travelling the entire southeastern quadrant of the United States he became the problem solver in the following industries: paper, towel and tissue, film and foil, tire and rubber, converting, magnetic film and steel. He was an outstanding father and role model as he set standards in life that he expected everyone in his family to meet and exceed. His pursuit of excellence never wavered, and he kept this attitude until his last breath. His joy was working in his yard! It was a passion he never lost. He knew and wanted his yard to look the best year-round. The hard work Ray Cox displayed was from the roots of his childhood working on the small family farm. He was taught nothing comes for free and if you want it you must earn it. So, after his chores were complete for the family garden and animals, he tended to his own small plot where he was the master and gardener. He grew his own tobacco and corn along with other crops. From this he learned his bartering and sales skills. This taught him business skills that would work for him the rest of his life. These are skills he passed on to all of us and others that would listen and take notice of what he had accomplished. Willard Raymond Cox / Ray Cox will be missed by his family and friends. He loved to sing as he would always be singing in the house and on the mower as he cut the grass. He enjoyed playing the guitar, banjo, violin and piano. He played them all until his fingers were just not limber enough to do so but he never lost his joy for singing around the house, in the car, outside yes in the shower and in public,,,,anywhere. He loved being a problem solver not only in the business world but also helped in relationships. The amount of people that came by just to talk was amazing as dad had the perception to see through the fog and cut straight to the core. Later in life he learned even deeper what it meant to encourage people and build them up rather than the negative. He often told me how he continued to learn and to always look for the positive. He said if you sow positive seeds, you are more likely to get positive crops. I am sad this man, a wealth of knowledge is now absent from our lives, but his memory and teachings are here forever and being passed on.

Willard Raymond "Ray" Cox

July 30, 1937 - December 28, 2025