Frank V. Fox, who dreamed big and gave ‘em hell, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee surrounded by his girls. He was 81.
From the southside of Troy, New York, Frank grew up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood. He was an altar boy at St. Joseph’s and attended Le Salle Institute, a military academy, before earning his degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
In 1966, Frank was drafted into the 199th Light Infantry Brigade during the Vietnam War. He served in combat for three months before leaving the field to treat an infection in his leg. While infirmed, his entire squad was bombed and killed. With no team to return to, Frank was reassigned to medical units until discharge in November of 1967. Forever haunted by the loss of his friends and comrades, Frank carried their memories with him for the rest of his life.
A job with General Electric took Frank to Erie, PA, where he met Ruth Falconer on a blind date at the Maennerchor Club. Three years later, they were married with two daughters, Cheryl and Michelle, born 12 months apart. During this time, he earned an MBA from Gannon University. Later, he and Ruth suffered the miscarriage of a son, Christopher, before having their third daughter, Kristine Kathleen.
The family moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee, a community who embraced them after a car accident on I-40 in August of 1986. On a rainy night, Frank’s car hydroplaned and collided head-on with a vehicle in east bound traffic. The family lived but suffered life-changing injuries, an event that defined the rest of their lives. All the churches in Hendersonville united in prayer for the Fox Family, who found support through family and friends, especially Our Lady of the Lake parish, The Edwards family, and The Cook Family.
Eventually, Frank quit GE and pursued his dream of owning a business. He founded Automation and Drives, Associates, and for ten years gave his all to a project that ultimately did not succeed. Not one to be defeated, Frank earned a Microsoft certification at the age of 57 and began a new career building databases alongside all the twenty-somethings.
A member of the Knights of Columbus, Frank served his term as the Grand Knight or “Grand Poobah.” A catechist for liturgical readings, he also volunteered with Room in the Inn, played on the Knights softball team, and never missed an Octoberfest.
All of his daughters graduated from Hendersonville High School, including Kellie Adkins Johnson, a dear friend of the girls who came to live with the Fox Family during her high school years and remains a part of the family. Frank lived in a house full of hairspray, nail polish, and phones constantly ringing. He was brilliant at math but couldn’t explain it. He was a man of one liners, having once said, “You’ve got to carpe diem, because there’s not that many diems left…to carpe!”
Frank Fox could fill a room with his radio-worthy voice and comedic timing. He loved to sing, to dance, to drive fast, to drink beer, and to laugh.
In his passing, Frank reunites with his beloved father Frank Fox and mother Loretta Vaughn Fox.
Frank is survived by his wife, Ruth Falconer Fox; his sisters, Kristine White and Lori Skiff; his brother-in-law, Garry Skiff; many nieces and nephews; his daughters, Cheryl Nichols (Brian Nichols), Michelle Fox (Ryan Sumner), and K.K. Fox (David Weatherman); and his grandchildren, Gwendolyn Cole, Caelyn Cole, Fox Weatherman, and Blyth Weatherman.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Room in the Inn (RoomintheInn.org) or Alive Hospice (AliveHospice.org).
Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, with a Memorial Mass beginning 12 noon at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Hendersonville officiated by Father Thomas Kalam. A reception will follow in Bevington Hall. https://www.hendersonvillefh.com
In keeping with Frank’s personality, the family encourages friends to wear bright colors to celebrate his life.
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