Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

William Fox Sr.

March 30, 1921 - May 24, 2008

 

South Bend Tribune 5/29/2008 (Excerpts)
SOUTH BEND - Mr. Fox was a native of South Bend, Indiana, and a recent resident of both Sarasota, FL, and St. James, Beaver Island, MI. He also traveled to Kauai, HI, to visit with the family of his surviving wife of 15 years, Barbara. As a community leader his involvement spanned many community groups and organizations. His community service included: St. Joseph Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America [BSA], Tri-Valley Council of the BSA, Northern Indiana Council of the BSA, and the current LaSalle Council of BSA. He also served as Council Commissioner, Council Treasurer, National Council Representative, Executive Board member,

 

He was born and raised in South Bend. His parents, Horace W. and Evelyn W. Fox, preceded him in death. He attended South Bend Public Schools, Madison Elementary and South Bend Central High School, graduating in 1939, where he served as president of the junior and senior class. He attended Indiana University at Bloomington, IN, where he graduated in December 1942 with a BS degree from the IU School of Business. He was a member of the Indiana Beta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and was a past president of the local chapter in Michiana. He was a member of the Indiana University Alumni Association, life emeritus; St. Joseph County IU Alumni Association [past President and Board member] and IU Varsity Club member. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend. There he served as a Deacon, Elder, Trustee [2 terms]. President of the Board of Trustees, usher and fundraiser of the present church building on West Colfax Avenue.

 

Mr. Fox was a principal owner, president and board member of the W.H. Bruner Insurance Agency, Inc. He joined the agency as an insurance solicitor in August 1946. In 1974 he merged with the Cassady, Neeser Agency, Inc. to form the Bruner, Cassady, Neeser Agency Inc. where he served as president until he retired on December 31, 1981. On April 10, 1943, at Camp Lee, VA, he married Jane Obenchain, who pre-deceased William on July 21, 1982. There are three surviving children, William [Linda] Fox, Jr., Mary. Jane [Greg] Lawson and Roland Williams [Carol] Fox, all of South Bend, IN. There are five grandchildren, (Becky, Christopher, lan, Jennifer and Jonathan) and one great-grandchild (Donny), all living in South Bend. His brother, John Williams Fox of Meadowood, Bloomington, IN, survives. On December 4, 1992, in South Bend, he married Barbara J.D. Fox, who survives. He served with the U.S. Army in the Quartermaster Corps as a 1st Lieutenant during WW II. His tour of active duty was from June 1942 until his discharge in September 1946. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, in First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend, with Rev. David Morrow officiating. A Masonic memorial service will immediately follow.

 

The family will receive friends in the church from noon until the time of services at 1:30 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the LaSalle Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1340 South Bend Ave., South Bend, IN 46617; or to the 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center for Children, 427 North Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601. Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North is handling arrangements.