Mr. Thomas Melvin Fox, Sr., age 84 of Frederick, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 26, 2015 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Suzanne Klopp (Gilbert) Fox , whom he married on August 18, 1956. Mr. Fox was born on August 17, 1930 in Frederick. He was the son of the late Melvin Thomas and Florence Rebecca (Davis) Fox. Following his graduation from Frederick High School in 1948, Mr. Fox entered the US Air Force, serving during the Korean War. He continued his education at the University of Maryland graduating in 1959. A life-long public servant of Frederick County, he served as the Frederick County Comptroller from 1968 to 1996, working behind the scenes to oversee a time of unprecedented growth of this county. At the time of his passing, he was the longest serving volunteer fireman in the state of Maryland, doing so for 67 years. During this time, he served as the president of the Junior Fire Company, providing leadership for 19 years. Active in and passionate about all aspects of community life, he served on the Board of Directors of the Jeanie Buzzard Workshop, the Citizens Nursing Home, and Scott Key Day Care Center. He served on the Board of Directors for M&B Printing, Inc. and was the president and member of the Maryland Finance Officers Association. Mr. Fox was a long-standing member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, serving the members of the congregation in numerous ways. Following his retirement in 1996, he enjoyed volunteering for the Frederick Historical Society and for the American Red Cross. He was a member of the Sertoma Club, the Elks Lodge and the American Legion here in Frederick. Mr. Fox was the father of three children Thomas M. Fox, Jr., Catherine Ann Fox and Margaret Rebecca Fox-Zeigler; the grandfather of ten Tiffany Nadeau, Steven Thomas Fox, Justin Nadeau, Austin Roy Fox, Kayla Jo Fox, Eric Nadeau, Mathieu Nadeau, Michel Nadeau, Gracie Elizabeth Fox Zeigler and Jacob Christopher Fox Zeigler; and the great-grandfather of Bennett Trottier. Tom Jr. and his wife Claudine live in Quebec Canada; Cathy lives in Baltimore, MD and Margaret and her husband Mark reside in Kearneysville, WV; He is also survived by his sister Marlee Williams of Frederick. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 from 4-9 PM at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. A memorial service will be held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 E. Church St., Frederick on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 11 AM. Rev. Dr. Robert Driver-Bishop and Rev. John R. Unger, II will officiate. The internment of his remains will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Junior Fire Company, 535 N. Market St., Frederick, MD 21701.
