Gerald Everett Cox

On January 21, 2015, after a prolonged illness, Gerald Everett Cox, 82, of Valencia and formerly of Allison Park, beloved husband of 56 years to Eleanor Josephine Cox. Also survived by his four loving children, Sandra (William) Danley, Douglas (Patricia Golitko) Cox, Barbara (Daniel) Baird, and Gregory (Tracy) Cox; 3 sister in law's, Lois (Jim) Murray, Marilyn Stevenson, and Michele Raye; grandchildren, Stephen Danley, Ryan (Kelly) Danley, Laura Danley, Jessica (Jarod) Lynch, Kristen (Anthony Dargon) Cox, Jeffrey Wallace, Tyler Baird, Sarah Cox, Rebekah Cox, Elisabeth Cox; 2 great-grandchildren, Parker Danley & Annabelle Dargon; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Everett and Vera Horner Cox; mother-law, Iva Ganovski; sister in law, Suzanne Horkey; and two nieces. Friends received Sunday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Simons Funeral Home, Inc. 7720 Perry Highway. Funeral Service will be held Monday at 1 PM in St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Road, with visitation at the church from Noon until the time of service. Gerald graduated from Hamilton High School (NJ) in 1951 and entered the Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on September 12, 1954 as Sergeant. He served in the Marine Reserves until 1959. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1958. He worked his entire life in the pharmacy. He began his career at 13 delivering prescriptions to customers in his neighborhood at Grove’s Pharmacy. He worked as a Soda Jerk and clerk throughout high school. After discharge from the service and graduation from pharmacy school, he started filling prescriptions at Harbard’s Drug Store. In 1964 he was hired as Manager of a Thrift Drug Store in Mercerville, NJ. He was proud of his store and his employees; excelled in customer service and took pride in having one of the first company stores to have $1 Million in yearly sales. He was promoted to the corporate office in Pittsburgh in 1971 and worked in distribution for the rest of his career. He retired as Vice President of Distribution of the Thrift Drug, Co. in 1993. Gerald was fascinated by history and worked on family genealogy for years. He loved to travel; He was an avid golfer and loved spending time with his grandkids in retirement. He attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where he was involved in several ministries throughout the years, including lay member to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference. He was especially proud of the youth ministry of the church and served as youth advisor and Youth Advisory Board Chair for a number of years. In lieu of flowers, families suggest memorial contributions be made in his memory to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101.

Gerald Everett Cox

October 28, 1932 - January 21, 2015