William Deshler Cox Jr. ’53

William died Feb. 10, 2021, in Chicago, where he was born and where he spent most of his life. 

He attended the Latin School of Chicago and graduated from The Hill School in Pennsylvania. At Princeton he joined Tiger Inn and majored in English, but left during his junior year to serve in the Air Force as a navigator on fighter jet interceptors. 

William then completed a business degree at Northwestern and began a career in the family business, the Fibre Drum Co., which had evolved from the Pioneer Cooperage Co. founded by his grandfather. 

Predeceased by his first wife, Janet, and his son William, he is survived by his wife Jane, son David, daughter Christina, grandson William, and three stepchildren.