Bill was born in Seneca, Nebraska, to Joshua Leach Cox and Margaret Mary D'Arcy. He was raised in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and spent much of his time there in recent years. He loved his horses, and during his retirement years traveled extensively to race tracks and fairgrounds throughout the West. Many of these trips included his grandson, Jed Duerr, who treasures the memories of those times with his Grandpa. Bill was in Boise, Idaho, racing four of his horses when he passed away.

He was a "SeaBee" – a member of the United States Navy Construction Battalion from 1951 to 1954.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Lenora Maxine Cox, and is survived by his six children, Kate (Dwight) Morejohn, Kevin (Jayne) Cox, Kathleen Mathiasen, Kerry (David) Duerr, Kelly Cox and Kirby Cox. His extended family included 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at San Joaquin National Cemetery. Services will be private.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Dylan Thomas