Keith W. Cox passed away peacefully at his home in Olympia Fields, IL, on April 30 at age 97. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, to B.K. and Helen Cox, he grew up in Terre Haute, IN, with his brother Jim, graduated from Indiana University in 1942, and married his high school sweetheart Ruth Ann Green the same year. He served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps from 1942 to 1946, eventually retiring from the Army Reserve as a Lt. Colonel. He made his business career as a financial executive with Eli Lilly in Indianapolis and with Brunswick Corp and Joslyn Corp in the Chicago area.
In addition to raising their five children, Keith and Ruth opened their home in Flossmoor, IL to a stream of foreign students and teachers. Later they went on to visit them in their home countries, from the Philippines to Panama to Norway, and to many other destinations.
Keith will be remembered as a wise and loving husband and father; a lover of maps and travel; and a good neighbor, ever willing to lend a hand or apply the skills he first picked up as an Eagle Scout. He joined Flossmoor Community Church in 1955 and served in multiple roles as elder, auditor, teacher, student and go-to volunteer.
Keith’s beloved wife Ruth died in 2005. He is survived by his children (David, Mary Susan, Linda, Garry and Stewart) and their spouses; niece Debbie and nephew Jeffrey; nine grandchildren including Kellie Cox, who cared for him at home for seven years; seven great-grandchildren, and dear companion Mary Harland.
A memorial celebration will be held at Flossmoor Community Church, Flossmoor, IL, on June 9 at 2 PM. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorial gifts to Flossmoor Community Church or Iron Oaks Foundation in support of the Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center.