George Fox Jr.

George D. Fox, Jr., G.D., 87, of Orlando, Florida, died peacefully on Monday, May 12, 2014. Born on December 14, 1926, in Andersonville, Tennessee, George grew up helping his father, George, Sr. Dewey and mother Johnnie Snodderly Fox in their country grocery store that sold everything from sugar and corn meal in large wooden barrels to coffins and cobblers nails for shoes. As a preteen in the depression era George delivered groceries from his parents store on Mill Creek Road, Andersonville in a black Model A Ford. So small was he that he had to sit upon stacks of phone books so that he could see over the steering wheel. After World War II, George managed the womens shoe department at JC Penney in Knoxville and then enlisted in the US Air Force. He was first stationed at Orlando Air Base. He and his hometown sweetheart, Thelma Grace Heatherly, married in September of 1949 in Fountain City, Tennessee, and they began their lives and career as an Air Force family. George was a veteran of the Korean and Viet Nam Wars, and after being stationed at four bases in Florida two in Orlando, Panama City, and Satellite Beach, Tokyo, Japan, Goldsboro, North Carolina, Memphis, Tennessee, Thailand, and Omaha, Nebraska, George and Thelma came back to Orlando where George retired as a Senior Master Sargeant. He began a second career with the City of Orlando, where he served as a purchasing agent and as a human resources officer. George was also a lifelong Mason. George was an enthusiastic dancer and was an officer in the YACS Club in Orlando. He had many friends at Chambrel at Island Lake in Longwood, where he moved at age 80. While living at Chambrel George and his good friend Ed were affectionately known as The Bad Boys. Georges wife, Thelma, predeceased him in 1982. He is survived by his devoted children: Linda G. Fox, from Richmond, Virginia Michael W. Fox Didier Heiremans, Washington, D.C. and Lisa Fox Keating John Kingman Keating, Orlando, Florida. He is also loved and will be greatly missed by his three grandchildren: Kingman, Kathleen and Virginia Keating. George was a member of the Dover Shores Baptist Church, Orlando, and more recently of the Longwood Baptist Church, Longwood, FL. Arrangements entrusted to Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, Orlando, FL. 407 898 2561. Please visit www.careyhandcolonialfh.com to offer condolences.