Obituary for Dona Lee Cox
Dona Lee Cox
Dona Lee Cox went to be with the Lord on October 29, 2016. She is survived by her husband, Edward F. Cox; daughter, Sharon Cox Ondrey (Larry); sons, Edward F. Cox, Jr. (Perri) and Robert M. Cox (Leanne) and six grandchildren. Dona Lee was born November 18, 1933 to Frank and Marion Heil of Ft. Thomas, KY. She was educated locally and graduated from Florida State University in 1955 with a degree in Business Education as a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority. Dona was engaged to Edward F. Cox of Boca Raton, FL, a 1956 graduate of the University of Florida. They were married January 3, 1957 at her parents home in Deerfield Beach, FL. Dona & Ed started their family with the birth of their first son, Ed, Jr. in November 1957 followed by Sharon in February 1960. After a four-year tour of duty in Maine, Dona, Ed, Ed, Jr. and Sharon moved to Milton, FL, for a two-year assignment at Saufley Field. Dona learned to water ski on the Blackwater River during this assignment. Once more, Dona supervised the packing for another Navy move, this one to the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. where Ed broadened his professional Navy education. Next stop was Hawaii for four more years and another addition to the family. Dona gave birth to Robert Cox, her third child in a Honolulu hospital. The wonderful Hawaiian weather gave Dona the perfect reason to take up oil painting, for which she won several blue ribbons. The family moved onto Oak Harbor, Washington. Even though the weather was so different than Hawaii, Dona loved being outdoors and continuing her painting. Donas Mom & Dad moved temporarily to Oak Harbor to help with the three growing children while Ed was deployed with his flying squadron in Viet Nam. Dona took on the task with selling the Oak Harbor house before the next transfer. This gave her an opportunity to begin acquiring the real estate skills she would later successfully use. The military called again and Pleasanton, CA was the next home for Dona and the family. While Ed was deployed for seven months on the USS Oriskany, Dona was Mr. Dad, having to run the house, car and manage three children. She was superb in all of these tough duties. Since the real estate market had crashed and Ed starting his second and last cruise, Dona & Ed thought they should sell the house while there was still enough time left on Eds assignment to the ship. Once more, Dona put on her Realtor Hat, and went to work listing and selling the house. She was successful so when Ed returned they moved to Navy housing on the Navy base at Alameda, CA. Jacksonville, FL came next but for only nine months. Ed was selected for a newly commissioned Navy equal opportunity and management school in Norfolk, VA so the family moved to Larkspur in Virginia Beach, VA. This would be their home for the next seven years. It was here that Dona really cut her teeth in real estate. She was manager for a new housing development and worked with many of the top real estate firms in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, earning accolades, awards and high praise from many. Dona stayed behind to sell their home when Ed went to a Pentagon assignment. In just a few weeks, that was done and Dona and the family followed to Northern Virginia. Once more, Dona scouted and searched until she found the just right house in a very nice community that was to be home until Ed retired from the Navy. The call of duty for Dona came from an unexpected area, which was secretary and office manager for senior ranking members of the Saudi Navy who were in Washington working with the U. S. Navy. With Dona at his side, Ed retired after twenty-seven years of duty. Dona received an award for her exceptional support of her husband during those years. Returning to the same neighborhood in Virginia Beach, Dona once more picked up with her real estate career, earning even more awards and success than before. Upon his active duty Navy retirement, Ed was selected as the senior Naval ROTC department head at Maury High School in Norfolk. Dona was an eager chaperone for the numerous field trips Ed and his Navy ROTC cadets took and offered encouraging words and advice to the cadets. After twelve years in Virginia Beach, a North Carolina mountain cottage became Dona and Eds summer retreat for the next sixteen years. They then returned to their Florida winter home in Indian River Colony Club, Viera, FL. Dona began honing her Bridge and Mah Jongg skills with frequent games during the week and Square Dancing, Ballroom dancing on the weekends with Ed. It was there that she reacquired her love of playing the piano that she learned at an early age. A ten-year residence in Spring Hill, FL followed by a too short life in Sun City Center, FL. Throughout Donas life, she was a selfless, faithful, devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral Information
Services will be at a later date in Pensacola, FL:.
Donations Link:
Alzheimer's Association
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Dona Lee Cox went to be with the Lord on October 29, 2016. She is survived by her husband, Edward F. Cox; daughter, Sharon Cox Ondrey (Larry); sons, Edward F. Cox, Jr. (Perri) and Robert M. Cox (Leanne) and six grandchildren. Dona Lee was born November 18, 1933 to Frank and Marion Heil of Ft. Thomas, KY. She was educated locally and graduated from Florida State University in 1955 with a degree in Business Education as a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority. Dona was engaged to Edward F. Cox of Boca Raton, FL, a 1956 graduate of the University of Florida. They were married January 3, 1957 at her parents home in Deerfield Beach, FL. Dona & Ed started their family with the birth of their first son, Ed, Jr. in November 1957 followed by Sharon in February 1960. After a four-year tour of duty in Maine, Dona, Ed, Ed, Jr. and Sharon moved to Milton, FL, for a two-year assignment at Saufley Field. Dona learned to water ski on the Blackwater River during this assignment. Once more, Dona supervised the packing for another Navy move, this one to the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. where Ed broadened his professional Navy education. Next stop was Hawaii for four more years and another addition to the family. Dona gave birth to Robert Cox, her third child in a Honolulu hospital. The wonderful Hawaiian weather gave Dona the perfect reason to take up oil painting, for which she won several blue ribbons. The family moved onto Oak Harbor, Washington. Even though the weather was so different than Hawaii, Dona loved being outdoors and continuing her painting. Donas Mom & Dad moved temporarily to Oak Harbor to help with the three growing children while Ed was deployed with his flying squadron in Viet Nam. Dona took on the task with selling the Oak Harbor house before the next transfer. This gave her an opportunity to begin acquiring the real estate skills she would later successfully use. The military called again and Pleasanton, CA was the next home for Dona and the family. While Ed was deployed for seven months on the USS Oriskany, Dona was Mr. Dad, having to run the house, car and manage three children. She was superb in all of these tough duties. Since the real estate market had crashed and Ed starting his second and last cruise, Dona & Ed thought they should sell the house while there was still enough time left on Eds assignment to the ship. Once more, Dona put on her Realtor Hat, and went to work listing and selling the house. She was successful so when Ed returned they moved to Navy housing on the Navy base at Alameda, CA. Jacksonville, FL came next but for only nine months. Ed was selected for a newly commissioned Navy equal opportunity and management school in Norfolk, VA so the family moved to Larkspur in Virginia Beach, VA. This would be their home for the next seven years. It was here that Dona really cut her teeth in real estate. She was manager for a new housing development and worked with many of the top real estate firms in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, earning accolades, awards and high praise from many. Dona stayed behind to sell their home when Ed went to a Pentagon assignment. In just a few weeks, that was done and Dona and the family followed to Northern Virginia. Once more, Dona scouted and searched until she found the just right house in a very nice community that was to be home until Ed retired from the Navy. The call of duty for Dona came from an unexpected area, which was secretary and office manager for senior ranking members of the Saudi Navy who were in Washington working with the U. S. Navy. With Dona at his side, Ed retired after twenty-seven years of duty. Dona received an award for her exceptional support of her husband during those years. Returning to the same neighborhood in Virginia Beach, Dona once more picked up with her real estate career, earning even more awards and success than before. Upon his active duty Navy retirement, Ed was selected as the senior Naval ROTC department head at Maury High School in Norfolk. Dona was an eager chaperone for the numerous field trips Ed and his Navy ROTC cadets took and offered encouraging words and advice to the cadets. After twelve years in Virginia Beach, a North Carolina mountain cottage became Dona and Eds summer retreat for the next sixteen years. They then returned to their Florida winter home in Indian River Colony Club, Viera, FL. Dona began honing her Bridge and Mah Jongg skills with frequent games during the week and Square Dancing, Ballroom dancing on the weekends with Ed. It was there that she reacquired her love of playing the piano that she learned at an early age. A ten-year residence in Spring Hill, FL followed by a too short life in Sun City Center, FL. Throughout Donas life, she was a selfless, faithful, devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral Information
Services will be at a later date in Pensacola, FL:.
Donations Link:
Alzheimer's Association
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