Charles Edward Fox

Charles Edward Fox, a beloved resident of Fountain Hills, Ariz., born Sept. 21, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pa., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the age of 75.

Charlie, or Sonny, as he was affectionately known, made a lasting impact on the community he called home as well as his local church, Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Margo, with whom he shared 40 years of marriage. He was a devoted father to his son, Ryan and daughter, Renee, as well as his daughter in law, Kimberly.

Charlie also had a special bond with his “doggie grandbabies,” Molly and Odin, and they were a great comfort to him in the last few years. He is survived by a sister, Bonnie and a brother, Gary, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, John Edward R. Fox, his mother, Doreen Fox (Snelling), and his brother, William J. Fox.

Charlie was a true pillar of the Fountain Hills community, dedicating his time and efforts to its growth and development. His contributions were instrumental in the transformation of Fountain Hills into an incorporated town.

Charlie’s passion for his community was evident in his tireless work and commitment to making Fountain Hills a better place for all its residents. He often did random acts of kindness for members of his community, sometimes dropping off care packages, food baskets or doing favors for others anonymously.

Over several decades, Charlie’s career in budgeting/cost analysis made him an integral part of Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell-Douglas Helicopters with a final merger with the Boeing Company. He retired after 29 years on the job, dividing his time between the Mesa facility and the Boeing plant in Philadelphia.

Whether in the public or private sector, Charlie had a passion for serving others. He was elected (in the early days) to the Fountain Hills Road District as well as the first Town Council.

He organized annual functions raising thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society, enjoyed working at the Fountain Hills festivals as a member of both Noon and Sunset Kiwanis and fostered the growth of individuals with special needs in a local Kiwanis chapter of the Aktion Club.

As a former high school cross country runner, he approached the newly formed Parks and Recreation Department suggesting and organizing the first annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. He was also a football player who loved the sport. He knew what it meant to be a team player from his initial games in Pop Warner to high school and all the way through college. He enjoyed being a coach of little league teams in t-ball, youth basketball and community softball groups. He made sure all players participated in each game no matter what. Scores didn’t matter as long as the kids had fun. He volunteered for a lot of activities…too many more to mention.

Beyond his civic involvement, Charlie was a loving family man. He cherished spending time with his wife, children and creating lasting memories that will be treasured by all who knew him. His warm smile, kind heart, and unwavering support will be deeply missed by his family, as well as those who called him friend.

Charlie’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the positive impact he made on Fountain Hills and his home state of Pennsylvania.

In accordance with his wishes no services will be held.

Charlie loved the Lord.

He loved his family and friends.

He loved to serve others.

But most of all, Charlie knew he was loved.