Bernice Hallstead Cox

Bernice Hallstead Cox, formerly of Millersville, PA, passed away March 13, 2014 at St. Anne’s Retirement Community.  She was a Coast Guard WWII veteran and was the wife of the late Robert C. Cox, a Navy WWII veteran.   Born in Mill City, PA, she was the daughter of the late Ray L. and Jenny Scheatzle Hallstead.  She graduated from Falls-Overfield HS and Empire Beauty School, Tunkhannock PA.

Bernice lived her early life in the Montrose, PA area where she worked for Little & Nelson Insurance and the Office of Agriculture, but later resided in Millersville, PA.  Her life spanned from growing up on a farm, owning her own beauty shop, enlisting in the US Armed Services, raising a family in Iowa for 10 years to working at Engle Hambright & Davies Lancaster, PA, the Lancaster County Courthouse, and the Lancaster County Republican Headquarters.  After she enlisting and completing boot camp, she was trained at Burdett School of Business,  Boston, MA to serve in the US Coast Guard Women’s Reserve SPARs unit in NYC.     At the end of the war, the SPARs were demobilized.  She was an active member of the Blue Mountain Waves.  Bernice always believed in serving her country and for many years served as a Millersville Republican Committee person and Judge of Elections.

Bernice was the mother of Robert Cox, Elaine Gouba, Mary McLane, Sharon Young, John Cox, and Kathryn Androski.   She is survived by 18 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by 9 brothers and sisters.  She was a member of the Highland Presbyterian Church.   She loved reading, doing crossword puzzles, gardening, playing bridge and pinochle, and enjoyed golfing with her family and friends.

In celebration of her life, a memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 20

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at 4:00 PM at Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 E. Roseville Road, Lancaster, PA. Friends may call at the church from 2:30 PM until the time of service.  Interment in Wellsboro Cemetery, Wellboro, PA, will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory are appreciated and can be sent to any of the following:

Highland Presbyterian Church, (717) 569-2651

500 E. Roseville Rd. Lancaster, PA 17601

http://www.highlandpc.org/

St. Anne’s Retirement Community, (717) 285-5443

3952 Columbia Ave, Columbia, PA 17512

http://www.stannesretirementcommunity.com/

Freedom Memorial Park, Millersville Borough, (717) 872-4645

10 Colonial Avenue, Millersville PA  17551

earnold@millersvilleborough.org

History of SPARs link –

http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/SPARS.pdf