Lyle Ashton Cox

Commander, U.S. Navy

Lyle Ashton Cox was born in 1921 at Atchison, KS. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1945. He served as the Assistant Navigator aboard the USS Enterprise during the last year of World War II.

After the war, he began aviation training, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1947. While in flight training, Lyle met Jane Leecraft, the sister of one of his Naval Academy classmates. That same year they married and their love affair lasted 61 years, until Jane passed away in 2008.

Following aviation training, Lyle attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned the degree of Master of Science in Physics. This led to a number of technical assignments including Deputy Director of the Defense Nuclear Agency Field Command in Livermore, CA.

Retiring from the Navy in 1964, Lyle began a long and successful career with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Beginning as a Physicist, Lyle served for nearly 35 years in a number of positions including Deputy Associate Director for Plans.

Lyle was an active supporter of the First Presbyterian Church of Livermore, and a strong supporter of advanced educations, especially the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and the U. S. Naval Academy.

Lyle was a devoted husband, a loving father, a dedicated grandfather, a kind neighbor, a trustworthy friend, and an exceptional man. He will be missed.

Lyle Ashton Cox, Sr., a Livermore resident since 1961, died Tuesday, 6 October 2009 after a brief illness.

Lyle and Jane's only son, Dr. Lyle A. Cox, Jr., and two grandchildren, Andrea and Ian Cox, survive them.

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