He married Virginia Nell Manuel on October 21, 1950 (marriage license).  He had the house they lived in (4619 Datura Rd., Columbia, SC) built before they had met.  Their children were John William Cox III, Fred Manuel Cox and Virginia Gayle Cox.

He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. degree; he appears on p51 of  the USC "Garnet and Black" 1936 yearbook as a senior (he cannot be found in the 1932-35 yearbooks). He was a veteran of World War II, and received the Bronze Star medal.  See discharge records.

In June 2002 I asked Mother how she met Father.  They both worked in the same office, where he was a clerk and she a typist.  She noticed that he made many apparently pointless journeys past her room; one of her co-workers joked that Nell and John should get married soon, so she wouldn't have to constantly move her head in order for John to get a glimpse of Nell.
One day Mother discussed John with one of the office ladies who knew his family in Sumter, and discovered that his family called him "William".  In a day or so, Mother saw Father at the water cooler, and said "Hello, William!".  Father was quite surprised (and no doubt pleased)... things went on from there.

He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, SC.

1936 Garnet and Black (USC yearbook) senior photo  local copy    

1936 fencing team at USC   local copy