Craig Donald Cox

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Craig Donald Cox, age 65, from Huntsville, Alabama who passed away Monday, May 10, 2021. He was a 1973 graduate of Virgil I Grissom High School and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1974-1978 and was also a graduate of Athens State University. He began his Federal Government career in April 1979 and retired in July 2016. He began his career as an Engineering Technician assigned to the U.S. Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Over the next 15 years, he served in various positions as an Equipment Specialist supporting the PATRIOT and AVENGER weapon systems. In November 1994, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command (AMCOM) Integrated Materiel Management Center where he served as the Assistant to the Director, Automated Maintenance Directorate. In October 1997, he was reassigned to the Lead AMC Integration Support Office, U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command where he was subsequently promoted to Chief, Maintenance and Manufacturing Division were he served as the Business Area Lead for Maintenance and Manufacturing requirements to provide integrated AMC Maintenance and Manufacturing business capabilities. He also served as focal point within AMC for all maintenance/manufacturing modernization projects within the Army Industrial Base, which provides maintenance, repair, overhaul, and production of Army equipment and ammunition. He was presented the Meritorious Civilian Service Award in recognition of his exceptional service as a Supervisory Integration Systems Analyst from August 2002 to July 2016. He also received the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award in 2012 and the Department of Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service in 2008. Craig loved fast cars, animals, the beach, and politics, but most of all he loved his family and friends. Conversations with him always made you laugh. He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jackie Donald Cox and Alice Swenson Cox; and his brothers Brian Marshall Cox and Adam Matthew Cox. He is survived by the loves of his life, his wife Patricia Sharp Cox and 2 daughters, Hailey Caitlin Cox of Huntsville, AL and Sonja Colleen Cox of Orange Beach, AL. He is also survived by his sister, Christie Cox Wilson (John) of Hoover, AL and his nieces and nephews Stephanie Sharp St. Martin (Matt), Tiffany Davenport (Matthew), Meredith Sammons (Clint), Brad Sharp, Josh Cox (Kelsey), Adrienne Wilson, Ashley Walker Vernon (Josh), Matthew Walker, Matthew Cox, Will Sharp and Lily Sharp.

Visitation for Craig will be held Saturday, May 15, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home, 698 Winchester Rd Ne, Huntsville, Alabama 35811. The Celebration of Life Service with Military Honors will be Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home Chapel, 698 Winchester Rd Ne, Huntsville, Alabama 35811. Craig will be Laid to Rest at Valhalla Memory Gardens, Huntsville, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, donations can me made to the following organizations: Veterans for Child Rescue and New Leash on Life. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Cox family.