Richard Cox passed peacefully in December 2025, at the age of 97, re-joining the love of his life and wife of nearly 70 years, Betty Cox, in Heaven with their Lord and Savior. The loving father of Rebecca Schmidt, Joanna Causley, and David Cox, was a friend to most everyone he met. He loved spending time with his family including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching, clinical practice, and music.
Richard was born in Decatur, Illinois in 1928 and lived his life learning and teaching, and in search of ways to help others. Preaching from a corner soapbox as a teen, he was in a church pulpit by the age of 19. Over the years, his spiritual life led him to involvement with the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and he traveled the world at times with the Reverend Billy Graham. His life included seeking ways to understand and help the world through formal education (PhD in psychology, DO and MD in medicine, and DMin in theology), as well as volunteer efforts. He was board-certified in Clinical Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology, Clinical Hypnosis, and Family Medicine, and was an ordained Presbyterian Minister. Richard was the founding president of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology within the American Board of Professional Psychology, and a Fellow of several organizations in psychology and medicine.
Richard became well-known in each of the disciplines in which he studied, practiced, and taught. His professional work included consultation with the United Nations and the World Health Organization (granting him an Honorary Doctorate of Science). Throughout his life, Richard would weave his knowledge in each of these areas, as well as music, into his interactions with others. He did not earn a doctorate in music, yet he was nonetheless an internationally respected trumpet player, teaching at times at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, judging in The International Trumpet Guild, the Rafeal Mendez Brass Institute, and traveling the country and world spreading joy.
Richard was active right up until his last days, authoring and publishing his final book (of several) just weeks prior to his death. In the final days of his life, he also continued to work on musical arrangements.
One of his dear friends and fellow trumpet player, wrote the obituary published in the newsletter of the International Trumpet Guild, capturing the essence of Richard’s soul and connection with others:
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Richard H. Cox (1928-2025). The term “Renaissance Man” barely begins to capture the extraordinary life of Richard Cox—a life he shared generously and joyfully with others. Though trained and world renowned in the medical field, his love of God, music, musicians, and all-things trumpet gave rise to an avocation almost as remarkable as his professional celebrity. With his passing on December 20, 2025, not only his family and countless friends, but our entire trumpet community was left with irreplaceable loss. Author of more than thirty books spanning sports psychology, performance anxiety, nutrition, religion, psychotherapy, becoming a better musician, leadership, brain science and other vital medical subjects, “Doc” was relentless in his quest to share the knowledge of his four earned doctorates and the wisdom of his ninety-seven years. He will be forever missed as an invaluable resource, selfless mentor, and constant friend. (Source: J. Fred Powell; https://www.trumpetguild.org/content/itg-news/2766-inmemoriam-richard-cox-1928-2025)
Memorial service and celebration of life of
May 16, 2026 11:00 Eastern Time
The Village at Brookwood
1860 Brookwood Avenue
Burlington, NC 27215
Those wishing to give gifts in his honor are asked to contribute to The Village at Brookwood to the Resident Support Fund and/or Staff Support Fund in lieu of flowers or other gifts.
If you have a favorite memory of Richard that you would like to share, please write it out on a note card and bring it with you to be posted on a designated board at the service.