A 1939 alumna of West Virginia University has left a $200,000 gift in her will creating endowed scholarships in memory of her mother and father.

Elizabeth Cox Owens, who died last year, grew up in Morgantown and followed in the footsteps of her parents, earning her undergraduate degree in history from WVU. Despite moving away from West Virginia for graduate school and her career, Owens kept the Mountaineer spirit close to her heart.

In her estate, Owens left $100,000 establishing the Esther G. Cox Graduate Scholarship, named for her mother, to benefit the women of the Chi Omega sorority at WVU where both she and her mother were members. Another $100,000 was left creating the Stanley R. Cox Scholarship, in memory of her father, to benefit students at the WVU College of Law.

As one of the first members of the Theta Chapter of Chi Omega at WVU, Esther Gilmore Cox was particularly involved with her sorority. From her initiation in 1909 to her death in 1981, she maintained a presence in her chapter as an active member, alumna and advisor, and encouraged her fellow sisters to give back to the organization that they had once called home.

“It was Esther who showed me that you give back to any organization you are a member of to enable the organization to move into the future,” said Karen Smittle, the recently retired Chi Omega Home Association president, who oversaw the implementation of the scholarship. “She was an alumna to remember.”

The Esther G. Cox Graduate Scholarship will be available to members of Chi Omega at WVU who are continuing their education in graduate school and who are in financial need. Scholarships will be determined by the Chi Omega Home Association.

While his wife lived for her sisterhood, Stanley Cox maintained a long-time family tradition of practicing law in Morgantown. Having graduated from the College of Law in 1912, Cox went on to practice as a prosecuting attorney as well as maintain a few family business properties on the side, including the Franklin Hotel, inherited from his father.

The Stanley R. Cox Scholarship is need-based and will provide funding for students attending the College of Law.

Elizabeth Cox Owens went on from WVU, continuing her education at Cornell University. After working for the U.S. Department of Defense for quite some time, she retired in Hilton Head, S.C., where she managed various hotel properties.
“Education was very important to the Cox family,” Smittle said. “Now they can pass that passion on to others.”

The gifts from the Owens estate were made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $750 million comprehensive campaign, being run by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University, runs through December 2015.

-WVU-

ab/bn/10/21/2013

CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org

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