Wanda Estelle Cox

Our dear mother, Wanda Estelle Cox, sadly and unexpectedly passed away on November 16, 2022, at the age of 73.  She was a wonderful mother/grandma and was always there when we needed her.  She was very loved and will be terribly missed.

Wanda was born May 27, 1949 in Gallipolis, Ohio to her mother Ella Mae (Slone) Cox and her father Ranford “Pete” Cox.

She met the love of her life, Willard “Gearld” Cox, while they were both very young. It was love at first sight for her.  After a short courtship, they both found they had a strong love of family and wanted to start one of their own.  They were united in marriage on June 19, 1965 in Enterprise, Ohio by her uncle, Rev. Charles Jenkins.  Soon after their marriage came their firstborn Kimberly (Rick) Cade and then the youngest Denise Phillips.

As a mother, she was generous, loving, and kind.  But as a grandma, she was the whole world to her grandsons, her “Sunshine” as she called them.  Gearld Lee (Amber) Cade, Aaron Scott (Morgan) Phillips, and her baby boy Terry “Austin” (Tianna) Phillips.  Her sunshine grew even brighter with the addition of her great grandchildren, Alyssa (Levi) Ellis, Brooke Campbell, Chloey (Nicholas Hicks) Campbell, Isabella Grace, Addison Faith, Layne Austin, and Bryla Jane Phillips.  Her sunshine just kept getting brighter with great great grandchildren, Lincoln, Hazel Mae, and Magnolia Ellis, Kamari Campbell, and two more due in 2023.

Having been a loving person with a heart of gold, she continuously cared and worried about everyone around her.  Wanda was a wonderful woman who was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished.

Our “Grandma/Grammy,” as she was called by her grandchildren, “Cat,” as she was called by her grandpa when she was little was an amazing wife, mom, grandma, daughter, sister, aunt, and a baker/decorator of some of the most beautiful cakes ever seen.  Wanda was a woman who put everyone else before herself.  She was a collector of cookbooks and a writer of poems, writing about her family and friends.

Wanda was the oldest of five siblings, Donna (Ronnie) Waugh, Randy (Darlene) Cox, Linda (Dan) Smith, Marsha (Marvin) Wickline, and the baby, Loren (Jane Ann) Cox.  She often said Loren was like hers.   From her five siblings and six brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Johnny (Nancy) Cox, Shirley Stephens, Richard Cox, Stanford Cox, Sharon (Wade) Bishop, and Dale (Carol) Cox came several nieces and nephews, most of whom were like her own also.

She was a member of Macedonia Church and had a strong faith in the Lord.  She wrote this verse in her Bible:  “To be with Jesus forever is the sum of all Happiness.”

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Angel Nicole Cade; father-in-law, Willard T. Cox, mother-in-law, Geneva “Jude” Cox; and brothers-in-law, Stanford and Dale Cox.

Yes, you are reading it right as Mom always said, “I was born a Cox, married a Cox, and I’ll die a Cox.’

As per her wishes, there will be a private viewing followed by cremation.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at District 11 Fire Station on Little Bullskin Road.  Services are under the direction of Willis Funeral Home.

Mom, you are in our thoughts and prayers every single day.  We cannot put into words how much we will miss you but know that you are going to a place much better than here, where you will be treated like the angel that you are.  Nothing can replace a mom/grandma like you.