John Williams Fox

Jun 22, 1919 - Nov 2, 2018

BLOOMINGTON, IN - John Williams Fox, 99, died November 2 at home in Bloomington. Services will be Wednesday, November 7 at 3:00 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church followed by a reception from 4:00 - 5:00 at Meadowood.

Mr. Fox was born in South Bend, IN, June 22, 1919 to Horace William and Evelyn Williams Fox. He was a 1941 graduate of the Indiana University School of Business.

He was married July 6, 1946 to Ella Wade Fox from Howe, IN, 50 miles from South Bend. They met in India during World War II where Ella was with the American Red Cross and he was in the Army Air Corps.

Mr. Fox was in the Advertising Agency business for 20 years in New York City with the G.M. Basford Company as an officer and a director. He then became a partner with the Executive Recruiting firm of William H. Clark & Associates for two years before opening his own firm in Chicago. As a founder and Chairman of Moriarty/Fox, Inc. at 20 North Wacker Drive, he located senior-level executives for 10 years for major corporations in the mid-west.

During World War II Mr. Fox was in the Army Air Corps with the First Air Commando Group in India and Burma for four years. This is the U.S. Air Corps unit that in March of 1944 airlifted a multi-national infantry force 165 miles behind the Japanese lines in Burma to guard India from invasion. This U.S. Air Corps unit had about 500 men and 348 aircraft including C-47 and C-64 transports, CH4A gliders, P-51 fighters, B-25 bombers, L-1 and L-5 light planes. On March 1944, gliders towed by transports over 8,500 ft. mountains, delivered 539 British and Gurka soldiers and 66,000 pounds of equipment to a field in central Burma known as "Broadway." The operation ran for six days and nights bringing in some 9,000 troops, 1,200 pack mules, and half a million pounds of supplies.

The operation was tremendously successful because the Japanese were distracted by having to deal with this guerilla incursion. Mr. Fox was a supply officer for the group. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his work.

He was also recalled to active duty in 1950 as a Lt. Col. in the Air Force during the Korean War.

John and Ella Fox retired to Beaufort, SC in 1980. Mr. Fox was active in St. Helena's Episcopal Church serving on the Vestry and as a founding Trustee and Chairman of the Preservation Trust for Historic St. Helena's Church. He was also a former President of HELP of Beaufort and for years served as a volunteer driver for HELP Mobile Meals. He was also a former Board Member of the Beaufort Open Land Trust, a former member of Dataw Island Club and a former Board Member of the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. He had a long-time interest in boating and at times was a member of the New York Yacht Club, the Chicago Yacht Club, the Waukegan Yacht Club, the Nyack Yacht Club, and the Tarrytown Boat Club.

In May 2006, after 26 years in Beaufort, the couple moved to Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington, IN. At Meadowood Mr. Fox was a member of the Resident Council. In town he and Ella were active members of Trinity Episcopal Church. He also volunteered at Community Kitchens.

Mr. Fox was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Ella W. Fox.

He is survived by sons, Dr. John W. Fox, Jr. (Carla) of San Diego and David W. Fox (Pat Tjaden) of Denver; daughter, Nancy L. Fox (Jim Heller) of Gulf Breeze, FL, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 3018 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington. A reception will follow from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Meadowood Retirement Community.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Preservation Trust for Historic St. Helena's Church, PO Box 1043, Beaufort, SC or Trinity Episcopal Church, 111 South Grant St., Bloomington, IN, 47402

Published in South Bend Tribune on Nov. 6, 2018

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

11/09/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108033563/john_williams-fox