John William Cox

John William Cox, 80, of 31 Braddock Way, Asheville, passed away on Thursday, March 28, at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center. Born Aug. 6, 1933, in East Flat Rock, N.C., he was the son of the late Raymond F. and Louise H. Cox and the loving husband of Peggy Towe Cox, who died in 2010. They were married for 58 years. A fifth-generation builder, Mr. Cox owned John W. Cox Construction Co. and built many residential homes in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. He resided in Ballentree, a community that he loved and where he built many of his neighbors' homes. He also helped build Furman University in Greenville, S.C., and hospitals and high schools in Asheville, Hendersonville, Morganton and Charleston, S.C. His great grandfather, Marshall Cox, built the first bridge across the French Broad River in Horseshoe, N.C. A four-year U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Cox served his country during the Korean conflict on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Rooks, as a gunner's mate. He was a member of Skyland United Methodist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle and provided a good home to many dogs, horses and other animals throughout his life. Surviving are his daughter, Jenny Klein, of Asheville; Tyler Cox, of Winston-Salem; a beloved only grandson, Nicholas Lindsay, of Raleigh; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Rosa Lee Miller and Catherine Cox, and brothers Raymond Cox Jr. and Charles Cox. A funeral service will be held at Groce Funeral Home Chapel at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road, Skyland, on Monday, April 1, at 10 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Keith Turman, pastor of Skyland United Methodist Church, will be the officiating minister. The family will receive friends following the service. A private interment service for family members will be held after the service at Calvary Episcopal Church cemetery in Fletcher. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, N.C., 28803.