WAYLAND: Mr. John L. Fox of Wayland died peacefully on Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Veterans Hospital in Bedford, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 97.
John was a veteran of World War II as a member of the European Theater Operations in France and Belgium, where he met his future wife, Camille. He served in each rank in Europe starting as a Private, later receiving a battlefield promotion to Master Sergeant, and was awarded the Bronze Star for work at the Port of Antwerp in support of the allied drive into Germany. Once back in the US, John rose through the ranks from 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel, working for the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, initially at the Commonwealth Armory in Boston, and later in Natick. He was recognized with a Meritorious Service Award at his retirement, and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
John was born in Springfield, IL, the son of Cecil (Dupont) and Oscar Fox. He is survived by his sister Patricia Solomon of Pompano Beach, Florida, his wife Camille (Birch) Fox of North Andover, his special friend and faithful companion Joan Cameron of Wayland, his daughter Marjorie Kurtz and her husband Bill of Collinsville CT, son John Fox and his wife Priscilla of North Andover, and a growing family of grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
The grandchildren in Connecticut include Dave Flanders and his wife Maeve, John Flanders and his wife Sheralyn, Bill Kurtz and his wife Stacy, Capri Kurtz and her partner Tim Kendzia. The Massachusetts grandchildren include Jennifer Bilodeau and her husband Rusty, Sarah Graham and her husband Billy, and Carolyn Fox and her husband Pete. There are 12 great grandchildren in all – Abigail, Hope, Anthony, Liam, Ayla, Camille, Ryan, Zachary, Bella, Dave, Cameron, and Raia.
John was predeceased by his sister Cecilia, and his brother Eddie, who died in combat in World War II as a member of the US Army Air Force.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (off Route 30), Wayland.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 10:00 o’clock at Saint George Catholic Church, 74 School Street, Framingham. There will be a reception following the mass in the Saint George reception hall.
Private interment will be at the National Cemetery in Bourne, MA with full military honors.
The family kindly suggests that in lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Jimmy Fund in memory of John to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.jimmyfund.org/gift.