Dayton
Daily News
February
26, 2004
FOX, WILLIAM E. - age 81, of Piqua, died Tuesday February 24, 2004 at 12:00 Noon at Harborside Nursing Home, Troy, Ohio. He was born in Urbana, Ohio January 10, 1923 to the late Elton J. and Winifred (Ramsey) Fox. He married Joyce A. Runkle on April 25, 1953 in Fletcher, OH. She survives. He is also survived by 3 sons and 1 daughter-in-Law; Kyle R. Fox, Toledo, OH; Kristopher W. Fox, Piqua, OH; Kent (Chip) and Diane Fox, Piqua, OH; 2 daughters and sons-in-Law; Kathi & Michael Benoit, Plano, TX; and Kimberly & Joseph Staley, Piqua, OH; 10 grandchildren; Nichole Baumbach, Corey & Kyle Fox, Kristin Fox, Bryant & Brody Fox, Michael & Katie Benoit, Joey & Shannon Staley and 2 great grandchildren; Jasper Baumbach and Lola Fox. Mr. Fox was preceded in death by 1 brother: Roger Fox, who was killed in action in Germany in World War II. He graduated from Urbana High School in 1940. Bill came to Piqua, June 1, 1948, to become the news editor and staff announcer at Radio Station WPTW-AM. He had used his G. I. Bill to fill a teenaged dream of becoming a radio announcer. He earned a degree in radio and television at the Broadcasting Division of Cincinnati College of Music. He resigned from the radio station in August 1961 to take over the North Miami Valley Bureau of the Dayton Daily News office in Troy. He worked for the newspaper for 22 years, retiring June 30, 1983. In addition to his radio announcing, he was a part time clerk for the Piqua City Commission in the 1950's. When the Piqua Police Department formed the auxiliary unit "Signal Five" in 1950. Bill signed up and served 50 years on the unit. He also was a parking control officer for the department for 10 years. Bill was an original member of the Piqua Players and was a former member of Church of the Epiphany, Urbana, OH. Bill served in the U. S. Navy during World War II as a Radioman First Class Petty Officer aboard an LSM amphibious landing craft in the Pacific. He took part in battles in the Philippines and in the Western Pacific and at the final battles at Okinawa. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday March 2, 2004 at 11 A.M. at MELCHER-SOWERS FUNERAL HOME in Piqua, Ohio with Rev. Rob Baldwin officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua, Ohio. Full military honors by Vets Honor Guard. Calling hours will be from 4-8 P.M. Monday, March 1, 2004 at the funeral home. Miami Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #58 will conduct a service Monday at 7:30 P.M. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, The Laurelwood, 3797 Summit Glen Drive, Suite 100, Dayton, OH 45449. Condolences to the family may be expressed to www.melcher-sowers.com.
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