Irene Fox

Irene Fox, 95, of Carthage, Indiana passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, January 14, 2023. She was born on Tuesday, December 13, 1927 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia to the late Gottlieb and Marta Hantl.

Irene and her sister Martha Sauter (d. 2017) spent their childhood and teenage years in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia. Their father was an accountant and their mother was a seamstress. It is from her parents where Irene first discovered her love for music and needlework. Irene attended Moravska-Ostrava Grammar and High School from 1933-1942 and then Moravska-Ostrava Business College from 1942-1944. In 1945, Irene and her sister were forced to leave their family and home behind to go by foot to Germany for safety given the instability that followed after the Nazi regime was no longer in control in the Czech region after World War II.

After arriving in Germany, Irene was determined to make the best out of the situation and began working as a Clerk Typist. This position led her to serving as a Secretary for the U.S. Army at Aschaffenburg military base, a position she was able to secure because she had learned English during her college years. It was her job at the U.S. Army that ultimately changed the trajectory of her life as that is where she met her husband, Virgil Dean Fox (d. 2016), who was serving in the U.S. Army and stationed at the same base. On Wednesday, June 4, 1952, Irene married Virgil Dean Fox (d. 2016) in Aschaffenburg, Germany and shortly after they moved to the United States.

In 1956 while living in Maryland, Irene became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Virgil’s military career took them to many places of which she loved including, California, Alaska, Indiana and Arizona. At each location she would secure jobs working for the military base as a civil servant. She retired in 1982 from Fort Benjamin Harrison military base in Indiana after 34 years of civil service. At the end of her career she worked in the classified library and received exemplary reviews on her work. She enjoyed all the places that she was able to live, but she especially loved her time in Arizona, where she could look out and see the mountains from her home. She resided there until 2015 living beside her sister, whom she faithfully chauffeured for weekly errands every Tuesday.

Irene was an active person and always kept busy. Her most favorite hobbies were needlework, playing the piano, painting, and bowling, to name a few. She was active until her last month and had happily kept busy with crocheted projects requested by friends and family. The pieces she created throughout her years will be treasured by many for generations.

Irene is survived by her children; Harry (Sharon) Fox, Indy (Jim) Cavanaugh, Connie Pearson, Tammy (Scott) Cole; grandchildren; Steve (Wendy) Fox, Tia Conder, Cienna Pearson (Ian Hayes), Keriane (Matt) Ross, Ethan (Jessica) Pearson, Alexis (Nathan) Drew, Brennan (Misty) Todd, Bryce (Anna) Cole and Caitlyn (Dillon) Hilderbrand; great-grandchildren; Seth Conder, Sammy Conder, Sterling Hayes, Bane Ross, Tate Ross, Hallie Pearson, Jed Pearson, Lilly Drew, Mallory Todd, Brock Todd, Mackenzie York, Connor Staggs, Caden Cole, and Kinsley Cole.

Irene will be greatly missed, especially her spunk and perseverance. Her life presented many obstacles, but she always made the best out of every situation and treasured her family most of all. In the words of Irene, “Such is life”.

The family will hold a private celebration to honor Irene’s legacy at a later date.