Thomas Fred Fox

Thomas Fred Fox, age 86, of Douglasville, Georgia, passed away on Monday, October 16, 2023.  Mr. Fox was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 5, 1937, to Lee DeVay Fox and Elizabeth Loveland Fox.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Fox was preceded in death by his sister, Susan Williams (Evan), son-in-law, John Hurkmans, and grandson, Jeramiah Hurkmans.

Tom is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rev. Sandra M. Fox; daughters and son-in-law, Christina Anne Hurkmans, and Melanie Lee Gibbs and Evan Gibbs; three grandchildren, John Hurkmans, and wife Amanda, Madeline Gibbs, Gareth Gibbs; two great grandchildren, John Gabriel Hurkmans and Jovanni Hurkmans.

Tom was raised in the Broad Ripple section of Indianapolis, graduating from Broad Ripple High School in 1954.  He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Institutional Management in 1958 from Michigan State University.  After his time in college, he served his country in the United States Army at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and at Fort Dix in New Jersey.  In 1959, he married the love of his life, Sandra “Sandy” Fox.  In the early 1960s, Tom began his very accomplished career in hotel management with Sheraton Hotels in the cities of Buffalo, Dayton, and Washington D.C., and he held management roles with other hotels in Washington and Atlanta before changing careers to become a public accountant.  Mr. Fox continued his education by earning a Master’s Degree in Industrial Management with a major in Accounting from the Georgia Institute of Technology.  In 1985, the family relocated to Douglasville, Georgia, where his wife, Sandra, was ordained as Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Douglasville. Tom enjoyed being the spouse of a female pastor, calling it “a joy (and a hoot!)”.

Tom’s faith was important to him, and he dearly loved the Church and its people. He was ordained as an Elder, serving Calvary Presbyterian Church in Marietta and First Presbyterian Church in Douglasville, where he faithfully assumed responsibilities ranging from serving as Clerk of Session to writing puppet skits for Vacation Bible School.  He had a long and meaningful journey with Presbyterian Cursillo. In addition to involvement with Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo, he served on the National Council, was National Moderator, initiated the group’s national newsletter and website, and helped establish Florida Presbyterian Cursillo.   

Creative to the end, Tom authored two novels in the final years of his life and, in his final months, compiled a guide outlining how current issues relate to sections of the U.S. Constitution. Tom’s family remember him as a man of deep integrity and unconditional love.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Douglasville. The family will receive friends that morning from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM also at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, Tom would have appreciated donations to the ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Douglasville or Big Bear’s Forge & Homestead, which is dedicated to helping veterans and first responders with PTSD and other service-related trauma.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com. Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Inc. and Crematory of Douglasville is in charge of the arrangements.