On December 26, 1912, Vincent was born in a log cabin in Mill Springs, Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was one of sixteen children born to Florence Mae McIntosh and Joseph Ralph Cox. He died at Tri-Cities Hospice House in Kennewick on September 27, 2006. After graduating from Knoxville High School in 1931 Vincent enrolled in the University of Tennessee where he played football under Coach Neyland and participated in R.O.T.C. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. His career began with the TVA Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Vincent described his choice to become a Christian at the age of 13 in Knoxville, TN. as the most important decision of his life. Later at the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga he felt ?called? into full-time Christian ministry. He moved to Forth Worth, Texas to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was there that he met Mary Eleanor King who would become his future bride. He graduated with his Master?s Degree in Theology from Southwestern in June 1941. With World War II looming, Vincent joined the Army as a Chaplain with the 38th Engineers. He served on Ascension Island, in the Belgium Congo and other Northern African countries before sailing to England to prepare for D-Day. He landed on Utah Beach on D2, June 7, 1944. Later he transferred to the artillery unit of Patton?s 3rd Army. In 1945 he was able to return from Europe to Texas to marry his fiancé of 5 years, Mary Eleanor. Her exquisite wedding gown was made of a silk parachute he found on Utah Beach. After honeymooning through the lower 48 states, Vincent began his pastorates in Washington State where he served Baptist churches in Kettle Falls, Bremerton, Snohomish, Walla Walla and in Kennewick. Vincent and his family returned for a short time to Southwestern Seminary where he attained his Doctorate Degree in Theology. Hobbies included being in the great outdoors, camping, fishing and hunting. At age fifty he planted an orchard and enjoyed setting up a small country store. He sold fruit and produce, leaving his money box out and reminding customers about his ?honor system?. Yakima fruit houses coined him the ?Apple King? for the fine quality of apples he produced. Vincent belonged to West Side Church, the Retired Military Officer?s Association and to the Tri-City Court Club. He was a genuine friend to all remembering people and calling them all by name, a loyal patriot to his country and a faithful servant to his Lord. Vincent is survived by his wife, Mary; children, Rose Mary Neel and her husband Dick, Jeanne Hultgrenn and her husband, Dan, Roger Cox, Mark Cox and his wife, Carole, and Connie Lennstrom; grandchildren, Shannon Phelps, Jenifer Blood, Rich Neel, Heidi Ellerd, Brian and Mary Hultgrenn, John, Stephen, Anders and Katie Lennstrom, Joanna, Erica, Rebecca, and Sarah Cox. He has 6 great grandchildren and three sisters, Betty Jane Tate and Malinda Chambers of Morristown, TN and Sylvia Hatmaker of Mooresville, IN. Viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Mueller?s Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union in Kennewick. Graveside Services will be conducted by the Rev. Faye Serene on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. at Desert Lawn Memorial Park on the corner of 10th and Union in Kennewick. There will be an honor guard, taps and a gun salute. The service to celebrate Vincent?s life will be held immediately after at West Side Church, 603 Wright in Richland on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. It will be conducted by the Rev. Karel Coppock and Rev. Serene. Donations in Lieu of flowers can be made to West Side Church summer mission program, or to the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entiat in Kennewick.