Edgar Charles Fox

Ed was born in East Moriches, New York to Edgar Charles Fox, Senior and Gertrude (nee Tuthill) Fox. He grew up on a Long Island farm tending to animals and raising chickens as a small business. He learned to sail off Long Island Bay leading to a lifelong passion for boats and the sea.

Upon high school graduation, Ed immediately joined the Navy and served before matriculating at Duke University to study electrical engineering. Early in his sophomore year at Duke he met Joyce and they were married during the Christmas holidays of his senior year. He served another tour in the Navy after graduation before settling with his bride in Pittsburgh, PA to design early computer control systems at Westinghouse for the paper manufacturing industry. His work took him all over the world including adventures in Finland and northern Canada. While in Pittsburgh, Ed also completed his master’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Ed and Joyce’s three children were born during their time there.

In 1968, Ed was recruited to lead engineering at Federal Paper Board near the coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina. Ed and Joyce rapidly became involved in the passions that they carried through their adulthood. While Joyce became a master at both bridge and tennis, Ed became a mainstay of the local sailing community. He built boats, raced boats and generally “messed about” on boats for the better part of the fifty-six years that they lived in Wilmington. He often skippered races with a crew of only his wife and children (and did quite well). He formally served as Commodore for the Wrightsville Beach, NC Ocean Racing Association and informally led the “Dirty Bottom Crew” in celebrating life on the water.

Ed and Joyce were also very active at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wilmington, NC. Ed served four terms on the vestry and as Junior Warden and treasurer. After retirement in 1992, Ed stayed active by consulting to the paper industry and performing pro bono computer work for St. John’s Church, Cape Fear Museum, WHQR Public Radio, and anyone who needed him including grateful family members.

Ed and Joyce leave behind their three loving children Wende Linthicum Fox (Lawrence James (Jim) Lawson III) of Chicago, IL, Bradley Charles Fox (Marie Maxwell Fox) of Eden Prairie, MN, and Anne Fox Ayanian (John Zaven Ayanian) of Ann Arbor, MI, as well as their seven adoring grandchildren: Andrew Vincent Sitzler Fox of Chelsea, MI, Katherine Fox Ayanian (Matthew Joseph Mingey) of Washington, DC, Matthew Fox Ayanian of Chicago, IL, Diana Rosa Sitzler-Fox of Chelsea, MI, Caroline Fox Ayanian of San Francisco, CA, Grace Anne Fox Lawson of Chicago, IL, and James Edgar Lawson of Chicago, IL.

Ed touched so many with a kind and willing hand. He loved his God; he adored his family. He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1219 Forest Hills Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 or www.stjohnsepiscopalchurch.org

A memorial service for Ed and Joyce will be held in Wilmington, NC at a later date.