William Cleveland "Cleve" Cox | Eastern NC Now

Born: May 3, 1924, Died: March 21, 2014

    William Cleveland "Cleve" Cox, a World War II infantryman who dedicated his life to helping his fellow veterans and a former Chairman of the North Carolina Veterans Commission, died on March 21, 2014 after a brief illness. He was 89, and a resident of Cary, N.C.

    Cox's life was forever shaped by his service as a machine gunner in the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division. He was severely wounded in Germany in 1944 and awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge, later returning home to his family in eastern North Carolina.

    Cleve Cox was best known for his work over four decades for the North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as State Adjutant/Quartermaster for 36 years until his retirement in 2001, and had previously served as VFW State Commander serving from 1964-65.

    In 2003, Cleve Cox was appointed Chairman of the North Carolina Veterans Affairs Commission by Gov. Mike Easley, a post he held until 2008. He had previously served as Vice-Chairman for eight years. Cox also served as National Chief of Staff of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in 1992-93; and on the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Council of Administration from 2001 to 2003.

    Cleve was also an avid golfer who once drove a Hole in One.

    Cox was born on May 3, 1924 in Blounts Creek, N.C., the youngest of the four children of David Brinson Cox and Rosa Marslender Cratch.

    He is survived by his wife, Maude Cox; his daughter, Jacqueline Cox Myers of Kill Devil Hills, N.C.; his grandchildren John Myers of Sacramento, Calif., and Nancy Eddins of Charlotte, N.C; and four great-grandchildren.

    Cox is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and he relied in his final weeks and months on the support and love of his nephew, Bill Long of Cary, N.C.

    A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Burial will be in Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh.

    Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.brownwynnecary.com.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Wake County.