Roy Fox

Roy Allen Fox, Lee’s Summit. A devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend, executive, educator, singer, musicologist, golfer, patriot, solider, world traveler, sports fan and conversationalist.
This remarkable life force was born and raised across the street from Abe Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. From there he went to North Africa to serve honorably in the U.S. Army during WW II. On Saturday, March 23 he went to his greatest glory, heaven. But death be not proud because what a marvelous—great—88 years he enjoyed. In living the good life, he impacted so many other souls past, present and future.
His hallmark accomplishment is his family that will lovingly continue the Fox legacy through generations. He is survived by his son and his daughter-in-law, Gene and Carol Fox. Two admiring grand children, Kristi Eggleston and Travis Fox, along with their spouses, Bill Eggleston and Laura Dumbrava. Five great grand children: Great grandsons Nick, Riley and Cooper Eggleston and Great grand daughters Mioara Fox-Dumbrava and Catalina Fox-Dumbrava. And his adoring nephew, Dave Fox and his wife Eileen.
He is preceded in death by wives, first, Mary Arlene Fox and later Katherine Anne Fox. Additionally, a younger brother, Lenny Fox and sister-in-law, Marilyn. Also his parents Ada and Roy L. Fox.
A measure of the man was that he spent his entire professional career with one company, AT&T. He first went to work for the company in the early 1940s when he was 16 and retired nearly 50 years later in Cincinnati as the director of its engineering school. The only disruption of his AT&T service came after high school graduation when he volunteered to serve as a communications specialist with the U.S. Army’s 3196 Signal Service Company. As a teenager, he served mostly in French Morocco in Fez and Casablanca with occasional duty in Oran, Algeria and Leghorn, Italy. His dedication to country and family was remarkable, especially his mother, who he wrote to nearly every day while at both Camp Crowder and in Africa. Those hundreds of letters were at his bedside last Saturday evening as a symbol of his steadfast family loyalty.
“Dearest Mother,” he wrote from Fez on his 20th birthday, September 12, 1944. “Well, you no longer have a teenaged son in Africa. But I must confess that I feel no different at all. I’m sure this is the last one I’ll have to spend in Africa and I hope I’m a civilian when my next one comes around and this awful war has been won. Gosh, mom, the war news is really good now.”
Family was also a contributor and beneficiary of Roy’s interest in golf and music. His father was a member of a national championship barber shop quartet that recorded for Victor Records. And his passion for jazz, especially the Big Band style of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller, was reflected in his extensive 78, LP and digital collection that will be passed down. And in his heyday, he was a scratch golfer and an LPGA marshal.
Roy was a devout follower of Jesus Christ, first as a member of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and later as a devoted member of the RLDS/Community of Christ Church.
A private memorial of family and friends will be held later in the spring in Lee’s Summit, with a graveside scattering of his ashes on his parents’ graves in Oak Ridge Cemetery, near the Lincoln Tomb.
As he requested, all notations and contributions in his honor should be made to Kids With Courage, P.O. Box 7034, Lee’s Summit, Mo. 64064 (kidswithcourage.org). Kids With Courage is a non-profit foundation to recognize, encourage and honor children and young persons living with Type 1 diabetes.
Or to Vitas Hospice at the Research Medical Center, the staff of which so lovingly and compassionately served his emotional and spiritual needs on his way to heaven.
“Hey, pop…I’ll meet you on the backside. We’ll pick it up on No. 10. And we’ll be playing the gold tees from then on!”
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