Arthur Bentley Cox "A.B."

Arthur Bentley Cox (A.B.), age 94, of Dardanelle died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. He was born July 25,1918, in Dardanelle, Ark. to the late Daniel Thomas and Love Howell Cox. A.B. was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII where he served as a medical corpsman on the hospital ship the U.S.S. Bountiful in the South Pacific and was a member of the Boyce-Woods VFW Post 3141 in Dardanelle. He was a lifelong member of the Dardanelle First United Methodist Church where he served throughout the years on the board of trustees and the administrative council. He was a member of many civic clubs, organizations, and boards. He was active in the Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce serving two terms as president. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Exceptional Accomplishment Award presented by the Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Community Development Program. He was co-chair of the Dardanelle Dam dedication, president of the Dardanelle Board of Industries, and served as chairman of the Yell County March of Dimes. A.B. was past president of the Arkansas Association of Professional Insurance Agents, a charter member of the Dardanelle Rotary Club, receiving the Paul Harris Award, a charter member of the Yell County Mounted Patrol and Yell County Wildlife Federation. A.B. was very active in the Boy Scouts of America serving on the Westark District Council. He was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and was proud of the fact that his three sons were Eagle Scouts. His greatest passions were quail hunting, dogs and horses. In 2005 he was inducted into the Arkansas Bird Dog Hall of Fame. He organized the Pullen Pond Field Trial and served as field trial chairman for 30 years. He was secretary and treasurer of the Arkansas Field Trial Association (Southwest Championship) in Booneville, Ark. He was preceded in death by sons, Arthur Bentley Cox Jr. and Louis Morgan Cox; grandson, Louis Morgan Cox Jr.; brothers, James Cox and Thomas Cox, and sisters, Camille Adams and Celeste Thurman. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Jean Morgan Cox of Dardanelle; son, Tommy Cox and wife Dinah of Dumas; daughters-in-laws, Debbie Cox of Dallas, Texas, and Liz Cox of Rogers, Arkansas; grandchildren, Howell Cox, Molly Pilkington, Meredith Finney, Ben Cox , Celeste Cox and six great-grandchildren. Family will receive guests Saturday, Dec. 29, 10-11 at Dardanelle First United Methodist Church. Graveside service at Brearley Cemetery will follow at 11:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dardanelle First United Methodist Church, 100 North Second Street, Dardanelle, Ark. 72834. Cremation Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations in Dardanelle. Online guest book and condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com.