Rev. Howard E. Fox

Rev. Howard E. Fox, age 96, of Strasburg, peacefully entered his eternal heavenly home on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

Born February 9, 1922, in Ashland, he was a son of the late Earl and Edith Hartman Fox. Howard graduated from from Ashland High School and went on to study at Ohio State University, Otterbein College, and the United Theological Seminary in Dayton from which he graduated. While at Otterbein, he met the love of his life, Kathleen S. Strahm. The couple were married on May 7, 1943, and shared 71 years of marriage prior to Kathleen’s passing on August 13, 2014.

Howard pastored at Waltz Evangelical United Brethren Church, Chippewa Lake, Sugarcreek E.U.B. and Union Hill E.U.B., Sugarcreek, and 27 years at Strasburg United Methodist Church from which he retired in 1986. He was a member of the Strasburg Village Planning Commission dealing with expansion issues, including the Pine Ridge Development; he was active in the foundation and development of T4C; and was a founding member of the local Christian Rural Overseas Program (C.R.O.P.). Howard served on the board of the Tuscarawas County Senior Center and was particularly involved in obtaining vehicles for senior transportation. Additionally, he was a long-time member of the Strasburg Lions Club.

Howard and Kathleen enjoyed travel, especially summers at Brevort Lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and winters in Florida. And they dearly loved their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cherished time spent with them.

Howard is survived by his children, Patricia (Roger) Dunn of Sugarcreek, Richard (Gerry) Fox of Strasburg, and John (Kathy) Fox of Limon, Colorado; his grandchildren, Shelly Dosch of Columbus, Matthew (Sandy) Fox of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Kali Fox of Strasburg, Colorado; his four great-grandchildren, Katie and Emma Dosch, and Caroline and Owen Fox; his five step-grandchildren; his fifteen step-great-grandchildren; and his numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, and his beloved wife, Kathleen, Howard was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Fox.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 3, at 1 p.m., in the Strasburg United Methodist Church, with Pastor Jason Humble and Rev. Steve Court officiating. Burial will be in Strasburg’s Grandview Union Cemetery. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the church hall. Family and friends are invited to call at the church on Friday, March 2, 4 - 7 p.m., and Saturday, 12 - 1 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Howard, please visit the obituaries link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family suggests that contributions in Howard’s memory be made to Strasburg U.M.C., 206 Second St. N.W., Strasburg, Ohio 44680, or to the Tuscarawas Co. Senior Center, 425 Prospect St., Dover, Ohio 44622.