Ralph G. Fox

Ralph G. Fox passed away at the Hoosier Village Senior Living Community, Indianapolis, at the age of 91. He was born in Indianapolis, the only child of Ralph G. and Ruth (Foltzenlogel) Fox and lived in the Indianapolis area most of his life. He attended Shortridge High School, excelling in science and mathematics, particularly chemistry. He enrolled in chemical engineering at Purdue University but his studies were interrupted by World War II. He served heroically in WW II as a Sergeant in the 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Division, Seventh Army. He fought on the front lines in the Colmar Pocket in France and was instrumental in crossing the Siegfried Line into Germany. The 254th Regiment won the French Croix de Guerre for action in the Colmar Pocket and two Presidential Unit Citations for actions in the Colmar Pocket and Siegfried Line. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the Meritorious Unit Badge, and the Combat Infantry Badge. After the war he returned to Purdue where he received a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1949, and MS in Chemical Engineering in 1950, specializing in heat transfer. From 1950-1962, he was employed in the research and development laboratory of the RCA Victor record division, Indianapolis. There he developed, among other things, a low-thermal-mass phonograph record stamper which greatly reduced the energy required to mold records. From 1962-1988, he was employed by General Motors Allison Division, Indianapolis. There he initially worked in the development of liquid metal heat transfer for the US Army Mobile Compact Reactor program, and later on various heat transfer problems in gas turbine engines and regenerators, earning numerous patents. In addition to his career, Ralph kept busy with family activities including SCUBA diving with the Indianapolis Aqua Divers diving club, rock collecting, and target shooting. He also raced his Porsche in Sports Car Club of America events. In retirement he spent time developing their much-loved ten acre estate near Zionsville. He was preceded in death by his parents, his ex-wife Louise Stetson Fox, and wife Joann Kellam Fox. He is survived by four children, Mary (Malcolm) Brown of Sumter, South Carolina, Ruth (Brad) Larsen of Bountiful, Utah, Paul Fox of Indianapolis, and Anna Olsen of Williston, Florida; two stepsons, James (Mimi) and John (Barbara) Sellers, both of Ohio; 12 grandchildren, Edwin Brown, Ruthanna Brown Weems, Timothy Brown, Brian Fox, Jacob Larsen, Sarah Larsen, Shaun Olsen, Molly Noble, Robert Chamberlin, Katie Chamberlin, Joel Fox, and Bentley Fox; 16 great- grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 27 at 2 PM in the chapel of the Hoosier Village Senior Living Community, 5300 W. 96th Street. Military honors will follow. Memorial gifts may be made to the Audubon Society (www.audubon.org). A tribute to Ralph's life may be viewed online at www.flannerbuchanan.com, where condolences may be shared with his family. Flanner and Buchanan- Memorial Park is honored to serve the Fox family.