Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Cox, child of God, was born August 5, 1940 in Utica, NY. His parents were Margaret Craig Cox and James F. Cox. He was the brother of John and Brian Cox, Jeanne Zeiter and Marcella Pryputneiwicz.
Art is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mahailie Tillson Cox, his daughter Deborah Barber and son-in-law Rob Barber, his son James Cox and daughter-in-law Dawn Cox, and grandchildren Georgia and Liam Cox.
He served in the US Army Reserve as a Medical Corpsman from 1958 to 1965. He graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College in 1961 with an Associates degree in Retailing and Marketing. He served as a buyer for McCurdy and Company in Rochester, NY from 1961 - 1971. He also graduated from Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois in 1975 with his bachelor’s degree. In 1991 he graduated from Faith Seminary with a Doctorate degree in Practical Theology.
Art was the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Bradford, from July of 1975 to August of 2000. During his ministry he oversaw the purchase and renovation of the old A &P Grocery Store on Mechanic Street of Bradford to be the new home of Grace Lutheran. In addition, Art pursued the purchase of five additional properties for the church’s future growth, one of which is the site for the Community Life Center.
Art’s service to the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church included; President of Developing Leaders for Ministry, a national leadership corporation for lay and professional church workers, past member of Eastern District Board of Directors, Presenter at National Lutheran Educators Conference and National Great Commission Conference. He developed and presented workshops for NY and PA churches, and had attended Robert Schuller’s Leadership Seminar.
Community involvements included: Member of Board of Directors at Bradford Regional Medical Center for 25 years, Past President of Rotary Club and The Penn Hills Country Club, past member of the Board of Directors for Visiting Nurses Association, and the Bradford Area School District.
Art was welcomed to his Heavenly home on February 2, 2018. Praise be to God.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday February 6, 2018, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Grace Lutheran Church 79 Mechanic St., where the Memorial Service with be held on Wednesday at 11:00am with Rev. Patrick J. Cox, Pastor officiating. Burial will be in Willow Dale Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran, 79 Mechanic St., Bradford, PA. 16701 or to Dr. Kent Hunter’s Church Doctor Ministries of 1230 US Highway Six, Corunna, IN 46730 (www.churchdoctors.org).
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com