Since 1974, Anthony and her sister have each owned about half of Cox Enterprises through a trust inherited from their father, three-time Ohio Gov. James M. Cox.

Anthony’s stewardship helped Cox grow into one of the nation’s largest media companies and providers of automotive services, with holdings that include 17 daily newspapers, 80 radio stations, 17 television stations, a leading broadband communications company and the world’s preeminent provider of used vehicle services, marketplaces and publications.

The Cox family has owned the company for 108 years.

Anthony’s perspective was shaped by a colorful early life, which ranged from weekend chores on the family’s Ohio farm to encounters with some of the most prominent figures of the day.

She was born in Dayton, Ohio, where her father founded the company as the owner and publisher of the Dayton Daily News. Anthony traveled with him frequently as his newspaper holdings expanded to Atlanta and Miami.

Anthony’s father, James M. Cox, was elected governor three times, and in 1920, was the Democratic nominee for president. His vice-presidential running mate was a young Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Anthony’s low-profile style extended to her philanthropic interests. Though she routinely gave half of her income to charity, she preferred to make private donations directly and anonymously to organizations whose causes she embraced.

These included a medical center for children and scholarship programs in her hometown of Dayton. She also was equally generous to her adopted home state, where she supported a host of community causes.

Anthony was a director and founder of the Hawaii School for Girls; a director of the Children’s Hospital of Honolulu, and a director of the James M. Cox Foundation of Georgia Inc., and chairman of the James M. Cox Jr. Foundation of Georgia, Inc.

She served as a member of the board of directors of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy. She was the only woman member of the board of directors of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International Assocation.

In addition to her two children, Barbara Cox Anthony is survived by her sister, five grandchildren and four stepchildren.