Orpha Adele Cox

Orpha Adele Cox, age 85, of Newark, DE, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2016. Adele was the wife and best friend of James Claude Cox, to whom she was married for 62 years, prior to Claude’s death in 2010.

Adele was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 1, 1931. She recalled also living in Delhi, New York, before her father and mother moved south to seek new opportunities during the Great Depression. She grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and graduated from Federalsburg High School. She and Claude married as soon as he returned from serving in WWII, and they began their married life in Federalsburg, later moving to a new home in Salisbury, MD. From Salisbury, they transitioned to Wilmington, and then eventually to Newark.

While living in Newark, Adele was a mother and homemaker until her two children began attending school. She then ventured out into the working world as a cafeteria worker in the public schools of Newark. She found her calling and became a cafeteria manager for most of her career, even serving simultaneously as the manager of both Christiana High School and Christiana Jr. High School.

Adele was a founding member of the Kingswood of Brookside Methodist Church and later was a founding member of the New Ark United Church of Christ. She was a member of the Eastern Star Newark No. 10. Adele was a wonderful cook and skilled seamstress. She loved to travel, taking her family on many great adventures in the United States and traveling abroad with Claude. Adele and Claude enjoyed many winters in Florida and many summers in their backyard pool.
In the years after Claude’s death, her daughter, Laura, lived with Adele, providing love, care, and support.

Cherishing her family, Adele always embraced them with her unconditional love. She will be missed by her two children, Laura Cox and Michael Cox; daughter-in-law, Connie Cox; grandchildren Matthew Cox (Mindy), Lauren Duckworth (Ryan); and five great grandchildren, Haley Everett, Emily and Evan Cox and Colton and Cierra Duckworth.

A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday afternoon, June 11, 2016 at the New Ark United Church of Christ, 300 E. Main St., Newark, DE 19711. Interment will be held privately in the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Ark United Church of Christ, at the address listed above.