William "Bill" Antrum Fox Jr.

William "Bill" Antrum Fox Jr., 98, passed away Friday, February 10th, 2023, in Muskogee, OK. Bill was born on October 25, 1924, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to William Antrum and Naomi Claire (Barnett) Fox, their only child. He grew up in Tulsa and Enid, Oklahoma, before the family moved to Wichita, Kansas, where his father was foreman in charge of the Wonder Bread Baking Company. Soon after graduating from East High School in Wichita, KS., at the age of 17, Bill enlisted in the United States Army, on March 11,1943, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, for basic training, Armored Force Radio School training for Radio Operator High Speed 766 and Rifle Sharpshooter. He was assigned to the 113th Mechanized Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron, Troop “C”, where he and his troops, landed at Normandy Beach, D-Day+4 (June 10, 1944). Bill and his troops continued the fight at the Battle of the Bulge, The Ardennes, Belgium, and in March of 1945, the XIX Corp and 9th Army, captured 300,000 prisoners. On VE Day, May 8, 1945, he volunteered to stay and help liberate Langenstein-Zwieberge Concentration Camp. Bill received EAME Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and World War 2 Victory Medal. In 2014, he received the 70th Anniversary Landing and the Battle of Normandy Honorary Medal. He was honorably discharged on December 6, 1945. After the WWII, Bill attended Wichita State University and met Marilyn Elaine Gwinn and later married in 1949. They had 3 children together. In 1973, he married Winnifred “Winnie” Austin, in Newton, Kansas. They lived in Wichita and Arkansas City before moving to Oklahoma City, and in 1990, and then moved to Eufaula, Oklahoma. Bill worked in Wichita for Beech Aircraft in an Administrative level and was co-editor of the Newsletter, among many other editorial positions with the Wichita Eagle and Beacon newspaper. After moving to Oklahoma, he worked for the United States Postal Service and retired after 15 years of service. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce, VFW Post 8798 Eufaula, American Legion Post 82 Eufaula (past Commander), Co-founder and past Board of Directors member for Under One Roof, Mcintosh County Youth and Family Resource Center, Eufaula. He was very active and volunteered as an election poll worker and local Precinct official. Bill, along with Winnie, were a long time active members of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Eufaula. Bill had many hobbies, including square dancing with Winnie in the 80’s and 90’s; gardening, fishing with his grandkids, sitting on his back deck doing crossword puzzles and drinking coffee and was an avid fan of St. Louis Cardinals and Oklahoma City Thunder. He especially loved driving his golf cart around his neighborhood, visiting with all his friends and family.

He is survived by his children, Vicki Haeberle and husband Allan of La Quinta, California; Brad Fox of Wichita, Kansas; Janis Engels of Rosehill, Kansas; Bonnie Hagan and husband Doug of Harrah, Oklahoma; and Dixie Hurley and husband Kevin of Williston, North Dakota; nephew, Michael Willcut and wife Llana of Eufaula, Oklahoma; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Winnifred; his parents William and Naomi; son-in-law, Duane Engels and son, Chuck Thornburgh.