Rox
Patrick L. Rox
September 25, 1951 - January 31, 2022
Patrick L. Rox, age 70, of Copperas Cove, Texas, passed away on Monday, January 31, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at Eastside Baptist Church, 1202 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Copperas Cove, with burial following at the Copperas Cove City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Monday, February 7, 2022, at Viss Family Funeral Home, 1614 S. FM 116, also in Copperas Cove.
Pat was born on September 25, 1951, in Gorman, Texas, to the late John Adcock and Ima Jean Rox. As a young child, he lived in nearby Dublin and DeLeon where he and his older brother, Tony, enjoyed spending time with their maternal grandparents, William and Ruby Craddock. In his later youth, he traveled frequently with his mother, adoptive father, Walter Rox, Tony and his three younger siblings, Artie, Angie and Natalie. He and his family lived in a myriad of places due to his father’s work, including Lubbock, Amarillo, Fort Hood, Midland, Killeen, Dallas, Austin, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Palatine, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
In July 1965, his mother died tragically and Pat was seriously injured outside of Lubbock when their car was struck by a train. After living with his father and siblings in Austin, in 1968, he moved in with cousins Barry and Ronnie Lightfoot in Copperas Cove, where he would find the stability his earlier years lacked. He would remain a Cove resident for the remainder of his life. At Copperas Cove High School, he played tight end for the Bulldogs and met the love of his life, Pam Manning. He married Pam at the age of 19 and they spent 29 years together.
Pat worked many years as a realtor and found joy in parenting his three children, Aimee, Josh, and Will, to whom he dedicated his attention and love from their first breath to his last. Pat was a kind and gentle soul who taught his children to respect everyone and all living creatures. He took great care to preserve life, no matter how small. When family members would encounter an insect inside the house, Pat would be called on to save the day, relocating the bug while taking great care not to injure the intruder. Once on vacation at Hilton Head Island, while a group of beachgoers gawked at stranded horseshoe crabs, he calmly lifted the beached arthropods and placed them safely back into the sea, much to the delight of Aimee and Josh.
Later in life, Pat embarked on a career of teaching and coaching sports at Copperas Cove High School where he would remain a fixture for 21 years. He was popular with students, student-athletes, and faculty alike for his caring and approachable demeanor as well as his no-nonsense approach and sometimes dark humor. Pat thrived on the successes of his students and students-athletes on and off the field, making a heartfelt and positive impact on innumerable young people whose achievements will continue to bear fruit in the community well beyond his career at Copperas Cove Independent School District.
He found great happiness in his later years as a grandfather. He was a steady, loving presence in the lives of Patrick, Ben, Noah, Ella, Rhys and Graeme. He was unfailingly there for both his children and grandchildren, never judgmental and always eager to listen and proffer sage advice, when needed. His support was so consistent, it appeared immutable and interminable. His loss will be felt deeply for years to come, and while we cannot help but long for his steadfast presence in our daily lives, we must remind ourselves that we have only begun to realize the mark he made on our world as those touched most profoundly by his life will uplift his exemplary spirit to even greater heights, inspiring others in turn. Therefore we must be content, even overjoyed that today, Pat rests in Heaven with his Lord and Savior and that someday we will be reunited in a setting that is so much more deserving of his presence.
Pat loved the Lord and diligently served him throughout his life. He helped build Eastside Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and served as a deacon. His life was a testament to his adherence to the teachings of Jesus; he emanated love, charity, humbleness and kindness. Pat constantly prayed for family and friends and often reminded Aimee, Josh, and Will that they were in his prayers.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents, John Adcock and Ima Jean Rox; his adoptive father, Walter Rox; and his sister Natalie Rox.
Pat is survived by his ex-wife, Pam Rox; their children, Aimee Coleman and husband Peter, Josh Rox and wife Mary, Will Rox and ex-wife Brandi; grandchildren Rhys, Graeme, Noah, Ella, Patrick and Ben; and siblings Tony Rox, Artie Rox and Angie Pinnow.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Communities In Schools of Greater Central Texas, Inc., an organization which aims to support and empower at-risk students to stay in school and give every student the confidence to overcome life’s future roadblocks and own their success.