A native of Toledo, Ohio, he was the son of the late James and Ella Brubaker Cox. He is an alumna of the University of Toledo, Adrian College, Yale Divinity School, and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. &bsp;

He served the United Methodist Church, first as minister, then as Adult Education and Conference Center Director (1947-72;) then moved to Executive Director of the Laymen&squo;s Movement for a Christian World (1962-67;) then in various business and governmental agencies in organizational development and training (1967-93).

During WWII he served his country as a conscientious objector to war in civilian public service in the states of New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He was also part of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), at Brevard Friends Meeting.

While residing in Brevard, Bob served on the board of Transylvania Vocational Services; served as a mediator for Dispute Settlement Center; was a client interviewer for TCM&squo;s Sharing House; served as clerk of Asheville Friends Meeting, and Brevard Friends Meeting. During his time in Columbus, he served as a mediator for Foothills Mediation Center; was a client interviewer for Thermal Belt Outreach; was an active volunteer within Tryon Estates Retirement Life Community.

Surviving is his wife of 39 years, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox; sons, Robert Cox and his wife Martha of Augusta, Mich., Alan Cox and his wife Tracy of Toledo, Ohio; sisters, Kathryn Baldwin of Burien, Wash., Madge Zehring of Jacksonville, Fla., Faith Merritt of Bradenton, Fla.; grandson, Morgan Cox; and granddaughters, Jennifer Carner and her husband Scott, and Grace Cox.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at Tryon Estates in Columbus, with the Rev. Ralph Kuether officiating. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 at St. Timothy&squo;s United Methodist Church, Asheville Highway, Brevard, N.C., with layman Robert French officiating.

Memorials may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, or the Thermal Belt Outreach, P.O. Box 834, Columbus, N.C. 28722.

An online registry is available at www.ashevillemortuaryservices.com.

‐ paid obituary