OBIT: Charles Williard FOX, 1926, Roaring Spring, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ LONG ILLNESS IS FATAL TO DR. FOX Dr. Charles Williard Fox, retired Roaring Spring physician, prominent civic worker and widely known lodgeman, died at his home, 311 East Main street, Roaring Spring, on Friday night at 11.55 o'clock. Death followed an illness of more than five years' duration and was caused by pernicious anemia. During much of the period he was ill Dr. Fox was confined to his home in a serious condition. His condition was critical for a number of weeks past and when he lapsed into a state of coma early Friday morning his family felt that the end was near. Members of his family were at his bedside when death ended his suffering. Prior to his enforced retirement due to illness, five years ago, Dr. Fox ranked with the foremost physicians in the southern section of the county and enjoyed an extensive practice. During the thirty-eight years he was a citizen of Roaring Spring Dr. Fox was very active in the community life and was responsible for many of the permanent improvements made from time to time. He served the borough in many capacities. He was elected a member of the borough council for three successive terms and during two of these officiated as president of that body. During his administration the first paving in the borough was completed. Eighteen years ago he organized the Roaring Spring Fire company and for a long period served the company in an official capacity. He also assisted in the organization of the first board of health in the borough and was a member for a decade. Dr. Fox was active in any movement that had for its purpose the advancement of the town and his public service extended even further than we have enumerated. In fraternal circles Dr. Fox was known far and wide by reason of his affiliation with so many of the more important fraternal organizations. He was a member of Model Lodge, No. 856, I.O.O.F., John I. Noble Encampment, Woodbury Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Williamsport consistory, Jaffa Shrine, Heptosophs and the Roaring Spring Fire company. He served many of the orders in an official capacity and in 1907 was grand patriarch of the Grand Encampment of the I.O.O.F. of the state of Pennsylvania. Dr. Fox was born at Woodbury, Bedford county, on Sept. 10, 1859, and was a son of Michael and Hannah Fox, both deceased. He received his early education in the schools of Woodbury and Taylor township and later entered Dickinson seminary at Williamsport. In 1879 he entered Jefferson Medical college at Philadelphia and was graduated in 1882. He began practicing medicine in Argentine, Kansas, but in 1884 located at Buffalo Mills, Bedford county, where he remained until 1887 when he located at Roaring Spring. [missing section] Catherine Mohr, daughter of John and Mary Mohr of Baker Summit, Bedford county. He is survived by his widow, two sons, Henry N. and Emory W., both of Roaring Spring; one brother, George M., of Prosser, Wash., and one sister, Miss Lillie M. Fox of Woodbury. He was a member of the St. Luke Lutheran church of Roaring Spring and for a long period taught a large class in the Lutheran Sunday school. The funeral was held this afternoon with services at the Fox home at 2 o'clock, following which interment was made in Greenlawn cemetery. Services at the cemetery were conducted by the Masons. Members of the I.O.O.F. held special services at the Fox home on Sunday afternoon. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Monday, January 18, 1926 FITTING TRIBUTE PAID DR. C. W. FOX The funeral of Dr. Charles Williard Fox, formerly one of the most widely known physicians in southern Blair county and equally as prominent in fraternal circles in Central Pennsylvania, was held from his late home in Roaring Spring on Monday afternoon. In addition to his brother lodgemen, a large number of relatives and friends from various sections of the country and state were present to pay their final tribute of respect. Services were conducted at the Fox home by the Rev. E. E. Hoshour, pastor of the St. Luke Lutheran church, of which the deceased was a member and veteran Sunday school teacher. Due to the fact that he had risen from a sick bed to officiate at the services and was not permitted by his physician to expose himself at the cemetery, Rev. Hoshour did not accompany the cortege to the burial grounds and the services there were in charge of Rev. George A. Duvall, pastor of the Methodist church. The usual burial ceremonies of the Masonic order were carried out at the cemetery by members of the Woodbury lodge of F. & A.M. of Roaring Spring. Three Masons and three Odd Fellows, affiliated with Model Lodge No. 856, I.O.O.F., of Roaring Spring, officiated as pall bearers. Special services were previously held by the I.O.O.F. at the Fox home on Sunday afternoon, following the usual custom of the local order. The floral tributes were very beautiful and included among the number were beautiful pieces from the class he taught in the Lutheran Sunday school and the class he was formerly affiliated with in the Methodist church at Woodbury. The only three surviving members of this once large class attended the funeral in the persons of Horace G. Hair of Roaring Spring; Harry Oelig, of Coreapolis, Pa., and Edward Fluke of Pittsburgh. Many Altoona personages of importance in fraternal circles and intimate friends of the family from a wide territory attended the final obsequies. Among those present from outside the county were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bennett, of Canton, O.; John McAuliffe of Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Mohr and Miss Mohr of Freedom, Beaver county. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, January 20, 1926