Clarence Milton Cox

Clarence Milton Cox, 95, died November 27, 2020, with his wife, Wanda, lying aside his hospital bed in her own. Clarence was born March 7, 1925 in a coal mining camp in Harlan County, Kentucky to coal miner-turned-Church of God minister, Ed Cox and his wife Delia. At the age of 18, Clarence enlisted in the US Navy to serve his country and the world. He was assigned to the USS Presidio, where he served as the ship's mailman, and was stationed in the Philippines. His ship entered Tokyo Bay the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Clarence was honorably discharged on March 25, 1946. He was proud to have had the honor to serve his country during World War II. Clarence married the love of his life, Wanda Hendricks, in September of 1950. Together they worked side by side in various business endeavors throughout their seventy years of marriage. He was proud, beyond measure, of his three daughters, Twila, Becky and Christy. His favorite moments revolved around his “darling daughters” being home with the joy, noise and food that surrounded their visits. In the early 1950's, Clarence started Cox's Poultry Farm, with the motto "Eggs laid, while you wait". It was in the mid-sixties when he hatched the idea for what would become his life's work and legacy: Cox's Catfish Haven - a commercial fishing lake that he and wife Wanda, built, owned, and operated into the 90s. Cox's Lake was an institution in Valley Station for decades. Thousands flocked it's banks every season to fish in the "Big Lake" and try their luck in the "Bonus Ponds" that Clarence himself stocked with thousands of pounds of catfish every week. Clarence was a quiet man, a faithful Christian who loved his family dearly. He was proud, and ever the risk taking optimist. Having spent his last hours on earth in a hospital room with his wife, he died with her by his side. The hospital staff affectionately referred to them as "The Notebook Couple”. Clarence is survived by his wife of seventy years, Wanda Cox; daughters Twila (Wendell) May of Louisville, Becky (Leon) Middleton of Louisville, and Christy (Bryan) Schmidt of Plano, Texas; loving grandchildren Rachel (May) Mansilla, and Hayden, Landon, Chloe, Holden, and Cassidy Schmidt, two great grandchildren, Martin and Michelle Mansilla and sisters, Shirley Higgins of Arizona and Ruth Stanley of North Carolina. Preceded in death are sisters Billie Jean Bunch, Sandra Johnson and brother Charles T. Cox. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Support Group of Kentuckiana Parkinsons Center. Funeral Info: December 20, 2020 Bardstown Church of God 1:30 pm to 2:30pm: Visitation 2:30 pm: Private Service will be LiveStreamed via Bardstown Ky.Church of God FaceBook page. Sound will be available in the church parking lot for those who wish to participate in that manner.

Clarence Milton Cox

March 7, 1925 - November 27, 2020