Ralph E. Cox, Jr.

Ralph "Sonny" Cox, of DeLand, died Friday, June 28, in Orange City.
Born in Bradenton, Oct. 1, 1945, he moved to this area in 1957.
Sonny graduated from DeLand High School in 1965. He received an associate of arts degree in recreation from Daytona Beach Community College.
Sonny retired in 1999 after working for both the DeLand Parks and Recreation department 1972-99, and St. Peter Catholic School 1969-99.
He was a volunteer fight fighter for DeLand Station 42.
Sonny drove the bus for Championship Martial Arts until 2012, and also for St Barnabas Episcopal School in 2012.,
He was a volunteer for St. Barnabas Episcopal School, where he operated the sound system for Wednesday chapel service; and also for St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, where he played in the contemporary band for the 9 a.m. mass 1999-2012.
Sonny played rhythm guitar and sang with the local 1960s rock-and-roll band Shades of Gray. He greatly enjoyed performing with the band.
He received a heart transplant on March 17, 2000, and was blessed with 13 additional years of life. He was instrumental in starting the West Volusia Transplant Support group.
Sonny started as a liaison between the City of DeLand and the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival in the 1980s, and continued to volunteer on the festival's board through 2012.
He was a member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.
Sonny is survived by his beloved wife of 22 years, Martha "Martie" Cox; one brother, Jesse "Rusty" Cox of Sarasota; two sisters, Lynn Hoyt and her husband, Warren, of El Paso, Tx, and Diane Smith, and her husband, Larry, of Colorado; three daughters, Michelle Hanson, and her husband, Duane, of Jacksonville, Kristi Welsh, and her husband, Jonathen, of Lake Helen and Jamie Cox, and her fiance, Jason Sampsell, of DeLeon Springs; four aunts, Doris Austin, Shirley Pelfrey, Irene MacDaniel and Mary Frances Olson and her husband, Richard; cousins Sally Austin, Linda Baily and others; three stepchildren Jerry Horton and his wife, Jen, Kelly Horton, and Matt Horton and his wife, Laura; seven grandchildren, Chance, Grasie, Kaytie, Kristin, Hunter, Jake and Luke; two step-grandchildren Nick and Vicki, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Odessa Thurmond.
Viewing will be at 4-6 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at Allen-Summerhill Funeral home, 126 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. A church service will be held on Monday, July 8, 2013 at 4:00pm, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 319 W. Wisconsin Ave. in DeLand; reception will follow immediately in Canterbury House. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.
Allen-Summerhill was in charge.