Nelson R. Cox

Nelson R. Cox passed away on February 12, 2019 just a few days shy of his 98th birthday.

Nelson Cox was one of the oldest members of Calvary Baptist Church but you'd never know it if you saw him. Always dapper, Nelson is a young 97 and described himself as a ""happy person"".

Born in a row house in Baltimore Maryland in 1921, Nelson grew up there with one brother. He was a Boy Scout and Sea Scout, played the bugle, sailed in the Baltimore harbor and earned the Star Scout rank along the way. During college at the University of Maryland, he joined ROTC and graduated as an US Army Lieutenant with a degree in Arts and Sciences. He then joined World War II, serving in Italy, Germany and France as a combat platoon leader. After the war, he remained in France as Camp Adjutant, overseeing the return of 85,000 German POWs to their homeland. One even painted Nelson's portrait on tent canvas which is hanging in his room at Someren Glen.

One wonderful event occurred during the war for Nelson – he met his wife Deane, an army nurse, at an officers' dinner. They married in Paris in 1946.

Returning to Baltimore, Nelson went to work for Martin Marietta as their Contracts Manager. In 1947, their daughter, Jackie, was born. In 1961, Martin Marietta moved Nelson and his family to Denver where he retired in 1986 after 35 years of service. Nelson and his family soon joined Calvary Baptist where he served on the Finance committee and as sound technician for 5 years while Deane was the church nurse.

Nelson's true love after his wife and family is Dixieland Jazz. For those that don't know, Nelson explained that Dixieland Jazz bands consist of the following instruments – Bass, drums, guitar or banjo, trumpet, trombone, piano and clarinet. Nelson volunteered for 20 years as a sound technician for various Jazz Festivals, including one in downtown Denver where he oversaw 7 stages. His favorite band was the Jim Cullum Jazz band from San Antonio and his favorite instrument is the vibraphone.

Nelson's hobbies included playing golf, building toy train sets, and travel back to France to visit friends made during the war.

Nelson lived at Someren Glen where his late wife Deane also lived after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Nelson considers his 67 year marriage and family which includes 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren his life's two biggest achievements.

Nelson was preceded in death by his wife Nevadine, often called Deane, and his granddaughter Joanna Karsh and his brother Newt Cox.

He is survived by his only daughter Jackie Karsh (Tom), grand children Bryan Karsh (Jill), Andy Karsh (Kim), Bethany Kelley (Brian) and Kelsey Baechler (Travis) and eight great grandchildren.

He will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Friday February 22 at 10:30 am, staging area B. A memorial service will follow at 1pm at Calvary Baptist Church of Denver, 6500 Girard Avenue, Denver Colorado.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to Calvary Baptist Church of Denver in his memory.

Graveside Service: February 22, 2019 10:30 am

Fort Logan National Cemetery
3698 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80236
(303) 761-0117
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftlogan.asp

Memorial Service: February 22, 2019 1:00 pm

Calvary Baptist Church
6500 E. Girard Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80224