Memorial service for Alton E. Cox, 80, Lawton, will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday in the Paradise Valley Baptist Church with Donny Crittendon officiating. Mr. Cox died Sunday at his residence. Arrangements are under the direction of the Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Mr. Cox was born January 15, 1932 in Bollinger, Texas, to Oscar Weldon and Mary (Reynolds) Cox. He grew up in Lawton and was a 1949 graduate of Lawton High School. When he was in high school he was active in the FFA and raised a Grand Champion Steer as well as being a participant on the Lawton FFA Team which won the national judging team competition. He attended both Cameron College and Oklahoma State University. He married Gwen Braddy on August 8, 1953 in Lawton at the Central Baptist Church. His father owned Oscar Cox Pontiac and as a young man he worked in his father's business. He later went into business with his brother, Wayne, and also owned and operated Sam's Tire Shop on north Sheridan Road. He had a lifelong love of horses and spent much of his life with racing and roping horses. In his later years he pursued the cutting horse business. One of his greatest passions was in the training of a horse. He had raced stock cars and also had served as a flagman at the Lawton Speedway. He enjoyed life and particularly enjoyed his view of the Wichita Mountains from his home north of Lawton. He was a member of Paradise Valley Baptist Church as well as the National Quarter Horse and National Cutting Horse Associations. He is survived by his wife, of the home; a son and daughter in law, Brad and Rachel Cox, Lawton; three grandchildren, Allee Passmore and her husband Brad, Lawton, Abbee Brooke Cox, New York, and Alex Brent Cox, Lawton; two brothers, Wayne Cox and Larry Cox, both of Lawton; a sister, Sharon Glover, Elgin; a brother in law, A.W. "Bud" Braddy, Lawton; several nieces and nephews. A son, A. Blake Cox, preceded him in death. Memorial contributions may be made to the music fund at Paradise Valley Baptist Church, 4974 NW Meers Porter Hill Road, Lawton OK 73507.