WILLIAM EUGENE COX

William Eugene Cox, Thompson’s Station, TN, age 83,  passed away on Monday, February 16, 2026. He is survived by his loving wife Willie Joyce Garrett Cox, daughter Mary Elizabeth Quigg & husband Ken of Spring Hill, TN and son William Randolph Cox of Thompson’s Station, TN, two grandchildren Logan Garrett Endress and Kennedy Eowyn Endress, and his brother Jimmy Everette Cox of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

He was preceded in death by his parents William Edward and Etta Lorene Cox and brother Jerry Wayne Cox. Gene, as he was known, graduated in 1963 from Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee. He taught school in Prince William County, Virginia, for two years and then joined the U. S. Navy. He retired in 1998 from the National Park Service  after serving in leadership roles for many of our national parks, including Everglades National Park and The Great Smoky Mountains. He was proud of being part of the staff starting two new parks, and also served in the Midwest Regional Office. He was an award winning author with his wife, Joyce. He never lost touch with his roots and was part of a group of his six childhood friends known as “The Keokee Boys” who he gathered with for thirty-three years on fishing trips to the Clinch River. 

Services will be held at the Jonesborough Presbyterian Church, Jonesborough, TN on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/