OBITUARIES: DECATUR: Willie Joe Cox, CB radio fan, fix-it man

One of his citizens band radio handles was “Four Toes” —- and for good reason.

Willie Joe Cox grew up in Felton, in Haralson County. One day he was chasing crows out of the corn field, rested the shotgun on his boot, then accidentally pulled the trigger.

“It blew off the middle toe on his right foot,” said his daughter, Emily Wheeler of Snellville. “He was only 12.”

Nearly five decades ago, Mr. Cox took up CB radios as a hobby. Besides “Four Toes,” he used the handle “Operator 19.” He and his late wife, Ruby Marie Cox, talked to people across the globe.

The funeral for Willie Joe Cox, 81, of Decatur is 11 a.m. today at Eternal Hills Funeral Home. He died Monday from an apparent heart attack while in his workshop, where he and a buddy had been tinkering with a CB radio, Mrs. Wheeler said.

When Mr. Cox’s wife developed Alzheimer’s disease, he took care of her single-handedly. He cooked and washed clothes.

“And he never, ever complained,” Mrs. Wheeler said.

The decorated World War II veteran served in Egypt, France, Germany and Belgium. He received an honorable discharge from the Army in November 1946.

As a civilian, Mr. Cox specialized in machine maintenance for Woolen Mill in Cedartown, Rexham Packaging in Greenville, N.C., and Star Packaging of College Park. He retired at 72.

“He was very mechanical,” said his grandson Rusty Wheeler of Loganville. “He could fix anything, and he had a strong work ethic. He passed that on to me.”

Other survivors include a brother, J.C. Cox of Cedartown; another grandson; and four great-grandchildren.