DERALD (DERRY) was born in Bristol, SD on February 10, 1930, the sixth of eight children. A man of impeccable moral character and determination, he enlisted in the Navy immediately after graduation. From 1949-1953, he served on the USS Valley Forge and the USS Boxer Carrier as a Machinist Mate during the Korean War. Derry married his hometown sweetheart Darlene Stadsklev on April 3, 1953. After the war Derry attended college on the GI bill and began a career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1957. His job with the BIA eventually moved his family, which had grown to include six sons, to Albuquerque, NM in 1966. Derry had a deep love for sporting events of all kinds, but his true passion was baseball. He was involved with the Roadrunner Little League as a coach for 27 years. A good-humored man who loved his life and his family, Derry was known for his incredible inner strength, his love for the Lord, his quick sense of humor, and his high level of integrity. Derry passed away on June 16, 2012, after a long and arduous battle with complications after open heart surgery. The family would like to give special thanks to all of the wonderful staff at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico who went above and beyond the call of duty to ultimately become much appreciated friends. Derry was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings, and grandson Isaiah Cox. He is survived by his twin brother Jerry of Grants Pass, OR and his sister Erma of Prior Lake, MN. He is also survived by Darlene, his wife of 59 years, and their six sons, David (Donna) Cox of Charlotte, NC; Ricky (Carolina) Cox of Long Beach, CA; Loren (Carol) Cox of Edgewood, NM; Danny (Pam) Cox of Corrales, NM; Robin (Garnet) Cox of El Paso, TX; and Kevin (Charly) Cox of Albuquerque, NM; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on June 22, 2012, at Faith Lutheran Church, 10000 Spain Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 at 10:00A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family would like all donations to be sent to the Albuquerque Rescue Mission, 525 2nd St., Albuquerque, NM 87102 or the Faith Lutheran Endowment Fund.
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