Funeral services for Mr. Richard F. Cox, age 94, of Ruston, LA formerly of Monroe, LA will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA. Officating the service will be Rev. Dale Oden. Interment will follow at Monroe Memorial Park cemetery in Monroe, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA.Mr. Cox was born July 2, 1919 to the union of L.C. Cox, Sr and Mollie Ethridge. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 69 years: Velma Maurine Cox; grandson: Ryan Regan Cox; two brothers and two sisters. He was reared at Cotton Valley, LA where he finished High School in 1936. He attended Louisiana State University and did graduate work at the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering. He was a member of the University of Oklahoma Research Institute where he did some pioneering investigations in the field of natural gas dehydration. In 1947, he joined Southwest Gas Producing Co. as a Field Engineer and progressed to the position of Executive Vice President, a position he held until that company sold out. He served as a director of Southwest Gas and its present company Commonwealth Gas Co. of New York and on several subsidiary companies.In 1978 he joined Ergon Inc. as Vice President in charge of Exploration and Refining and in that capacity was responsible for construction and commencement of operations of that Company's refinery located at Vicksburg Mississippi. Through his years of service with both southwest gas and Ergon he was involved in development of oil and gas properties throughout the Gulf Coasts region and the Rocky Mountain area.He was a member and served on the Board of Directors of the following industry organizations: Natural Gas Processors Association, Independent Petroleum Refiners Association, and American Petroleum Institute. He was a former member of Lakeshore Baptist Church in Monroe, LA where he taught a men's Sunday School Class. He served as Chairman of the building and finance committee of Lakeshore Church for the expansion of that church. One of the most rewarding experiences of his career was being involved in a company supported program which provided summertime employment for College students. Participants in that program went on to become successful Engineers, Physicians, Lawyers, Accountants, College Professors and Business professionals. His basic philosophy which guided his life's endeavors was based on a quote by philosopher O.A, Batista “Science through knowledge must lead us ever closer and closer to truth, and in the end truth is the root of mans most passionate needs.”Mr. Cox is survived by his son: Richard R. Cox (Sue) of North Port, Ala.; daughters: Judith C. Mears (Don) of Ruston, LA and Carolyn C. Joyce (Gary) of Monroe, LA and Norma C. Elmore (Bill) of Ruston, LA; sisters: Birma Barrett of Bernice, LA, Shirley Howard of Sarepta, LA and Emily Sue Woodruff of Shreveport, LA ; brother: Willard Cox of Minden, LA; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Nell Cox of Minden, LA and Betty Cox of West Monroe, LA; 9 grand children and 6 great grandchildren.Pallbearers will be Christopher Mears, Jon Richard Mears, Brian Elmore, Joel Schuh, Con Cox and Ron Deal. The family would like to express a special thank you to dad's caregivers, especially Shay Underwood. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 28, 2013 from 1:00 PM to service time (2:00 PM) at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA.Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Charity Hospital, Louisiana Baptist Children's Home or Charity of Donor's Choice.