Roll Call Tribute

Published in Dayton (OH) Daily News on Sept. 30, 2018

Harold FOX(1934 - 2018)
FOX, Harold G. Harold departed this earth very early Monday morning, Sept. 24th at Hospice of Dayton with Rose at his side after a noble and courageous battle with Parkinson's first identified by a neurologist early in January of 2013. He was born in Higgins, TX on February 8, 1934, the eldest of three children. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Earle, his mother, Edith, and sister, Gwendolyn Patterson, his nephew Don Patterson, and his brother-in-law Harry McDaniel. He is survived by his wife, Rose, his son, Paul, his grandson, Gunnar, his sister-in-law, Marian McDaniel, and her three children, Catherine, Deborah (and husband Douglas) Beasley, and son Brian and wife Molly, his brother LaVaun (Sharon) and their two daughters, Lisa (Jerry Ince) and Sherry (Craig Botko) and 21 great-grandnieces and nephews. As a child, he was so fascinated by the comics that he taught himself to read before he was five (!). His mother was a dedicated first grade teacher, and his father taught in the upper grades. Already by high school, he was intrigued by acting. At Texas A&M, he majored in physics and was very active in Wesley Foundation as well as in acting. He continued his physics studies at Iowa State where he earned his master's and pursued his Ph.D. He also continued his love for acting on campus and was very active in both the undergrad and grad activities at Wesley Foundation (then one of the largest Wesleys in the nation). In 1957, Rose Tashjian became the only full-time director of Wesley, and Harold felt called to seek God's will for his life by going to Garrett (seminary) at Northwestern University. Harold and Rose became man and wife on Dec. 19, 1959 in Ames, IA during his Christmas holidays. Upon completion of his master's in theology at Garrett/Northwestern, he took a break from his graduate studies by fulfilling his active duty obligations for R.O.T.C. by serving in the Army Chemical Corps at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, AL for two years, returning to Garrett, he set to work on his Ph.D. in systematic theology. In 1965, the Foxes adopted Paul, only 19 days old, in Chicago. In 1967, Harold was invited to teach in U.D.'s department of religious studies and became U.D.'s first Protestant professor in that department. That was the year Harold and Rose bought their first house, specifying to the realtor to show them houses only in Dayton View. He planted three grapevines in the yard of their first home because he loved eating grapes so much, but every friend who saw the vines assumed he intended to make wine!! He decided to research wine-making at the library. What he read about the chemistry of wine making intrigued him so much that he began making a number of different wines in one gallon jugs. He had passed his comprehensive exams for his Ph.D. at Garrett/NW with flying colors and had completed his research before coming to U.D...alas, the dissertation was not fully written in time. Harold chose to become a farmer in 1974 to raise French hybrid wine grapes and bought a small farm in Preble County so he and Rose could maintain their active membership in the Congregation for Reconciliation (Presbyterian/U.C.C.). There was an unprecedented freeze one December at -14 degrees for several days decimating all the vines. Choosing not to start over, he tapped into his physics background to do technical writing. He became active in the Society for Technical Communication and served as treasurer for several years. He also originated a monthly column for S.T.C. online entitled "Calling all Verbivors". More than once, members exclaimed to Rose how eagerly they awaited each column which delighted and inspired them so. In 2004, he was recognized and honored by S.T.C. nationally as an Associate Fellow. Harold retired on his birthday in 2000 and promptly turned to his lifelong love for the theater. He auditioned for roles at the Dayton Theatre Guild and was in numerous plays there where he received accolades. He also was in several plays for FutureFest (with high praises from the judges) and for the Dayton Playhouse. He served as a board member for the DTG for many years. In 2015, he was honored as Board Member Emeritus. Harold was active in the founding and development of the Congregation for Reconciliation (and also, later L.E.A.D. Leaders for Equality and Action in Dayton). He was part of the weekly House Church services, led in-depth biblical theological/social justice studies (and participated in actions) and served on the church board and as a co-President of L.E.A.D. Our world is the poorer for his absence from our midst; his modesty, his humility, his strong faith, his brilliance, his dedication continue to bless those of us who knew and loved him. A memorial service will be held at Grace U.M.C. at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Dayton Theatre Guild, the S.P.L.C., or Grace U.M.C