Gerald Maxwell Cox

Gerald Maxwell Cox passed away on June 17, 2025, at the age of 80, in Conroe, Texas. Born on June 26, 1944, in Brownwood, Texas, he was the son of Jack Wright and Viola Mae (Beck) Cox.

Gerald’s beginnings were humble. Raised on a cattle ranch without running water, he learned early on the value of hard work. His childhood curiosity led him to experiment with electronics on the farm. While legend has it one of these experiments led to his mother suffering an electric shock, he eventually became quite skilled at electronics and decided to pursue a career in engineering. Through sheer determination, he became the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. His commitment to education did not stop with himself. He actively supported his younger brothers in their academic pursuits and instilled the same belief in education in his daughters, encouraging them in their studies of science.

As a young man, he met and fell in love with Barbara from Claremore, Oklahoma, at a church social. Barbara would soon become his devoted wife, eventually leaving her stressful job as a child welfare social worker to become a stay-at-home mom raising their two children. Gerald and Barbara balanced each other out. While Gerald tended to be more serious and hard-working, Barbara's fun-loving nature brought out his sense of humor. Standing a full foot taller than her, Gerald acknowledged that Barbara probably married him so he could reach things for her.

Throughout his successful career at Texas Instruments and smaller start-ups, Gerald took great pride in his many inventions and patents. But nothing made him more proud than seeing his daughters’ academic and career achievements. He could sometimes be heard bragging about them to strangers, much to his daughters’ dismay. As evidence of his love of technology, Gerald’s family was always the first in the neighborhood to acquire new tech advancements, whether it was a personal computer, or dial up Internet, or sci fi DVDs, or a digital camera.

Gerald had plenty of other quirks, for example, preferring to avoid shorts and sandals despite the hot Texas sun. A true Texan, he loved Fritos, Dr. Pepper, and Blue Bell ice cream — often having all three for supper. When Blue Bell had a recall in 2015, Gerald went to great lengths to stock up, deciding he would rather risk listeria than risk going without his favorite ice cream.

Gerald’s journey took him from Texas to Maryland to California and even Shanghai. But Texas was always his home and that is where he insisted on spending his final years.

Gerald’s legacy will live on in the lives he shaped and the love he gave. He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia and Catherine, two grandchildren, and his brothers, Darrell and Keith. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of three decades, Barbara Jean Cox. He will be laid to rest by her side.

A graveside service will be held in his honor on June 25, 2025, 10:00 AM, at Woodlawn Cemetery located at 310 S Nome Ave, Claremore, OK 74017. Gerald Maxwell Cox will be deeply missed and his impact on those who loved him will be cherished forever.