W. Wilmer Cox

W. WILMER COX

Salem

W. Wilmer Cox, 93, of Salem, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at the Pearl Valley Rehab

Center in Muscatine.

Wilmer was born on

Feb. 3, 1926, at Salem, the son of Walter W. and Ada R. (Donaldson) Cox. He graduated from Salem High School and went on to join

the U.S. Army on April 25, 1944, serving his country during World War II and was honorably discharged on March 14, 1946. After his return, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Lucile Marr on Dec. 7, 1946, at the First Baptist Church parsonage in Mount Pleasant, she preceded him in death on Oct. 29, 2005.

Wilmer farmed for a few years before he went to work for the Henry County Roads Department. He also worked for the City of Mount Pleasant and drove a school bus for Mount Pleasant Community Schools. He was a member of the Salem Congregational Church in Salem where he was an active member serving as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and brought forth messages from the pulpit. Wilmer was also a member of the Salem American Legion and the New London American Legion. He was honored to take the trip to Washington, D.C. He enjoyed hunting, drinking coffee with his friends at the gas station and telling stories. Wilmer was a very generous man throughout his life.

Wilmer is survived by his children, Carol Provino of Salem and Merrye Jean (Jerry) Wilhelm of New London; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Lavena Fish of Denison, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one grandson, Eric Wilhelm; and two sisters, Vivian Habig and Wuanita, in infancy.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant with the Rev. Rod Cooper officiating. Burial will follow in the Salem East Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until time of the service at the funeral home.

A memorial has been established in his memory to the New London EMT's.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com.

Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is caring for his arrangements.