HOLTON- Richard Lee Cox, 79, of Holton, KS passed away Thursday, November 17, 2011 at the Holton Community Hospital. He was born March 8, 1932 in Holton, the son of William S. and Edith Belle (McGehe) Cox. His father passed away when Richard was two years old. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, John J. and Ortha Mae McGehe.

He attended elementary schools in Holton and graduated from Holton High School in 1950.

Richard worked for Marion Bennett Plumbing and Petree Propane prior to working at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Topeka as a pipefitter for 23 years. He was a member of the United Steel Workers Local #307. He took early retirement due to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1987.

He was a member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Holton.

Richard married his roller skating sweetheart, Dorothy Basel, on July 14, 1951 in the First Baptist Church Parsonage in Holton. She survives. They had celebrated 60 years of marriage in July 2011. He is also survived by 3 sons, Bruce A. Cox (Paula) of Topeka, KS, William M. Cox (Kathy) of Lawrence, KS and David B. Cox (Teuka) of Topeka, KS; a daughter, Deborah S. D'Orvilliers (Dennis) of Holton, KS; 10 grandchildren, Tammy Graff (Bill) of El Paso, TX, Matt D'Orvilliers (Kati) of Leawood, KS, Jason D'Orvilliers (Sarah) of Centennial, CO, Becky Martin (Jack) of Holton, KS, Amanda Chegwidden (Troy) of Topeka, KS, Monica Enneking (Jerad) of Hiawatha, KS, Brian Cox and his fiancée Audrey Moulden of Topeka, KS, Kaycie D'Orvilliers of Lawrence, KS, Ashley Cox and her fiancée Micah Halton of Lawrence, KS, Amber Cox and her fiancée Joe Sessel of Topeka, KS; 3 step grandsons, Cody and Casey Gartner and Christopher Ireland (Sierra);10 great grandchildren, Dylan, Mason, Kaden, Alexis, Levi, Jackson, Abbygail, Parker, Scarlet and Claire; a brother, Gene A. Cox of Hanover, PA; 7 brother – in – laws, Willis E. McGee of Holton, Anthony Basel (Dorothy) of Netawaka, KS, Daniel Basel (Evah) of Lawrence, KS, George Basel (June) of Abilene, KS, Harlan Basel (Sara) of Gainesville, FL, Roy Basel of Front Royal, VA and Walter Basel (Nancy) of Lincoln, NE; 2 sister – in- laws Louise Bickford (Kenneth) of Holton, KS and Evelyn Vincent (Robert) of Lyndon, KS; 3 special cousins, David, Donald and Bruce McGehe and many nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Doris Metzke and Betty McGee.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 21, 2011 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Interment will be in the Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening. Memorials may be given to the Arthritis Foundation or Holton Community Hospital c/o Mercer Funeral Home P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.