Quillen L. Fox

U.S. Navy 1942 to 1983

Lt. Commander Quillen Leigh Fox

Quillen Leigh Fox 1918 - 2009 Quillen Leigh Fox, 91, of Montgomery, Illinois, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2009 at Provena Mercy Hospital in Aurora, Illinois. Born in Randolph, Nebraska, he was the son of Robert and Anna Fox. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Phyllis Kendall Fox; three daughters, Linda (Larry) of Springfield, Illinois, Cindy Anderton (Steve) of Millington, Maryland, and Carol San Roman (Phil) of Aurora, Illinois; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Mr. Fox (even his children called him Mr. Fox) graduated from Nebraska State Teachers College (now Wayne State College) and received a Master's Degree from the University of Illinois. Mr. Fox was a Golden Gloves Champion and all-around Sports Enthusiast. He joined the Navy in 1942 and attended Northwestern University Midshipman School to go on to serve as a Naval Officer in WWII. He served aboard the USS Mullany and received the Bronze Star after his ship was attacked by a Japanese plane during the campaign at Okinawa in April 1945. Mr. Fox left the active Naval service in 1947 but continued his Naval service as a member of the Naval Reserve until his retirement in 1983 when he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After WWII, he joined Investor Diversified Services. In 1973 he switched careers to become a teacher and coach on the South Side of Chicago. He was a participant in an innovative program to prepare overage underachievers to finish high school. His students could always rely on Mr. Fox for clean uniforms, a ride to games and a McDonalds after the game. Mr. Fox retired from teaching in 1993 and became active in volunteer work. He devoted endless hours to Dreyer Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Special Olympics and Kiwanis Club where he was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2001. He served Wesley Methodist Church faithfully as a Sunday School teacher and member of the Finance Committee. He was active in the Navy League and promoted Pearl Harbor Remembrance events. He attended reunions of classmates from Wayne State College, classmates from Northwestern Midshipman School and his shipmates from the USS Mullany. There will be no visitation and no funeral service. Mr. Fox will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial remembrances can be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Aurora, Illinois.


(Obituary from the Beacon News)