Hubert Ralph Fox

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Hubert R. Fox (“Hugh”) finished the 98-year course of his life in this world on Friday, December 10, 2021, and passed into the presence of the God he loved and served. He had kept the faith. He was reunited with his loving wife, his sweetheart Bernice, as well as with many loved ones. Hugh was born October 16, 1923, the fifth child of Edwin and Wilhelmina Fox. He out-lived all of his siblings. Hugh earned the rank of Eagle Scout early in high school. He turned 18 in October 1941, six weeks before Pearl Harbor. After that, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. He graduated from Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills High School in 1942 and began his studies in Engineering at General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan. Hugh’s Army Reserve Unit was soon called up, and he entered active service in the United States Army. After artillery school at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, he served in the European Theater in 1944 and 1945. He returned to the U.S. in July 1945, with orders to deploy to the West Coast to prepare for the invasion of Japan. After the war ended in August, he was honorably discharged. He was quietly proud of his service. He flew the flag, and he was deeply moved to be included in an Honor Flight to the WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, where Sen. Robert Dole greeted his group. He married Bernice Irene Norman in August 1946. Their love story lasted and flourished through and beyond her death in 2003. They had been married 58 years. Their union would be blessed with three children, Paul Fox, Susan Boyle, and Timothy (Cheryl) Fox, and later with Hugh’s grandchildren: Paul’s daughters Amy (Christopher) Zurawic and Sarah (Dana) Snider, Susan’s daughters Rachel (Michael) Taylor and Katherine Boyle, and Timothy’s son Michael (Leah) Fox, along with his great grandchildren, Molly and Hunter Fox; Elsa, Charlie, and Bastian Taylor; Brianna, Taylor, and Morgan Snider; and Elliott and Sebastien Zurawic. Hugh is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. After Hugh was discharged from the U.S. Army, he completed his mechanical engineering degree at General Motors Institute. He was already working at General Motors, where he later became a Senior Production Process Engineer. He retired from GM after 40 years. Hugh lived out several deep and profound commitments in his life, beginning with his faith in God, serving Him as a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. He reflected this in his deep commitment and love for his wife and family, including their children, their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren. He was also strongly committed to his church throughout his life, serving in various roles of service and leadership, in both his church of origin, Wealthy Street Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, and, for the past 28 years, Grace Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. To God Alone Be the Glory A Service of Memorial and Celebration will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, December 16, at the Grace Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. A time of Visitation will be held at Noon before the service. Interment will be in the Grandville Cemetery, with family attending.