Patty Julia Welsh Cox

Patty Julia Welsh Cox, 73 of Abilene, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at the University Church of Christ, 733 E.N. 16th Street. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. A visitation with the family will be on Sunday, January 31, 2016 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Patty was born in Houston, Texas on August 30, 1942 to James Redmond and Louise Whitlock Welsh. Following her graduation from Lamar High School, Patty attended and graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors degree in Home Economics. Patty moved to Abilene and attended Abilene Christian University and earned another Bachelors degree in Education and her Masters degree in Education. Patty began her teaching career at Abilene Christian Schools before moving to the AISD and Austin Elementary. There, Patty taught thousands of Kindergarteners until her retirement in 2008. Patty also used her teaching skills to lead hundreds of young minds in Bible class on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights at her church. She twice won the church’s award for extraordinary love for children and she was the founding director of Rainbow Bible School.

Patty remained active after her retirement. She worked to deliver meals for Meals on Wheel and volunteered at the Christian Service Center. Patty also served as President of the Jean Marsh Book Club and as President of her and Richard's investment club. She loved to cook and carried food for years to the sick and the bereaved. She also helped cook for the church's funeral ministry.

Patty loved her children, both in the classroom and in her home. She was a wonderful and loving teacher, mother and grandmother to all her kids.

Patty was preceded in death by her parents, James and Louise Welsh, and by her adopted mother, Millie Young Welsh, who helped raise Patty after the death of her mother at a very early age; brother Robert Redmond Welsh and a sister, Carol Jean Rediger. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Richard Cox, son Kendall Redmond Cox and wife Sonja Millette Cox of Abilene and daughter Sadie Cox Weaver and husband Forrest of Abilene; and four grand children, Andrew Dyer of Abilene, Blake Davis of Honolulu, Hawaii, Bill Weaver of Abilene and Sara Davis and husband T.J. of Denton, Texas.

The family would like to express their gratitude for Patty's care by Drs. Will Shudde, Abe Fakhoury and Anton Melnyk. The family also requests that donation be made in Patty’s name to Meals on Wheels, 717 N. 10th Street, Abilene, Texas 79601 and the Christian Service Center, 901 Mesquite Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.

Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.