Lance Lee Cox was born June 12, 1934 in Floyd County, Virginia. He graduated from Brookville High School, Brookville, Indiana in 1952. He was in the United States Army for two and a half years beginning in 1954, stationed in Puerto Rico. After returning home, he attended Earlham College, and received a BS Degree in Biology.
Lance married Estella Jeannette Vasquez in 1967 and had a daughter, Andria Lannette Cox-Ritchie (husband Deric). Lance and Jeannette also have four granddaughters – Jessalyn Marie and Rachael Lee Relly, and Amanda Rayanne and Alexis Cheyenne Ritchie.
Lance was a long-term member of the Brookville United Methodist Church and was a leader in his community and state, serving in various state-appointed and volunteer positions. The “Sagamore of the Wabash” was awarded to Lance by Governor Orr in 1988, and in 2012 he was awarded the “2012 Indiana River Friendly Farmer Award” by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman.
Lance passed away on January 18, 2013. During his life, he enjoyed photography, woodworking, taking his granddaughters fossil hunting and helping them with science projects. At his eulogy, delivered by his dear friend John Burton, he said,”If I were obliged to describe Lance in a single word, it would be the word “gentleman”. He was forever mild-mannered, without rough edges, speaking ill of no one”.
With memorial contributions, Jeannette has established the Lance Cox Memorial Scholarship Endowment fund in the Franklin County Community Foundation. After the fund reaches $5000 and income is available, it will provide scholarships for residents of Franklin County who are currently attending or planning to attend Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. If more than one applicant applies, primary consideration will be given to students attending Earlham who are studying Biology or Geology.