William Lewis Cox, Jr, 75, of Des Moines, Iowa, was called Home to heaven on Thursday, December 12, 2025, after battling cancer. He was born in Murore, Burundi, Central Africa on October 16, 1950 to missionary parents. He spent his childhood and some of his young adult years in Africa, permanently returning to the US in 1978. He spent nearly the rest of his life in the Des Moines area.

Bill, or Billy, as he was known by missionary Aunties and Uncles in Africa, loved automechanics, wood-working, photography, and helping people. Following his retirement, he enjoyed swapping stories and sharing with his friends about what God had done in his life. People in his community knew to search for the man who wore a hat and smoked stogies if they were in need of help or prayer. Bill considered praying for others – most often complete strangers – a God-given ministry, one he undertook with care and purpose, writing down each petition in a little notebook he carried on his person at all times. Those for whom he prayed found themselves comforted, heard, and their needs often met in even the smallest ways after conversing with Bill. We know he will be remembered and missed in his community because of this ministry for a long time to come.

He is now reunited with loved ones who preceded him to heaven, first his beloved parents, William and Ruth Cox, Sr., and then his sister, Donna Jean Griffin.

Bill was survived by ex-wife Sharon Cox, and daughters Jennifer (Troy) Gentry, and Mischelle (Rob) Price; ex-wife Doris Cox, daughter Lisa (Ron) Wilfort-Alvarez, and son Brandon (Violet) Thomas. Bill will also be missed by those who called him grandpa or papa, grandchildren Kendra, Tayler, Clayton, Marco, Tori, Isabella, Cody, Misael, Jack, and Benjamin, and great-grandchildren Romeo, Lorenzo, Alani, and Ava.