C. Richard Fox

East Palestine-C. Richard "Dick" Fox, 81, of East Palestine, passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Columbiana.

Dick was born June 22, 1929 in Canton, a son of Harold M. and Edith Wallace Fox and resided in Unity Township since 1930, on the family farm know as FoxAyre Farms. He was a graduate of East Palestine High School and Ohio Northern University; received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Ohio Northern and was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1952 at the age of 21.

Following graduation, he was drafted into military service and served two years during the Korean Conflict as a special investigative agent in the Counter-Intelligence Corp. of the United States Army.

In 1955, he began his practice of law in the City of Columbiana, specializing in probate cases as well as commercial and real estate matters.

He was a member of the Columbiana County, Ohio State and American Bar Associations, the American Judicature Society and the Columbiana County Law Library Association. He served as a trustee for the Law Library and also was a past Secretary-Treasurer. He was also a past president of the Columbiana County Bar Association.

He served as a Referee in the Columbiana County Juvenile Court from 1979 to 1990 and presided over more than 13,000 cases during the time he held this position.

He was a member of the Fairfield Ruritan Club and served as president at one time. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Masons, Al Koran Shrine, and Unity Grange. He was also a past president and secretary of the Columbiana Village Chamber of Commerce and was a chairman of the Columbiana-Fairfield Township Community Chest, and was a life member of the Columbiana Historical Society.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Donna Fox; three nieces, Marsha A. Fox, Leann Fox and Sandra Fox Clark; three great-nieces, Amy Fox Last, Carrie Fox, and Sarah Fox; a great-great nephew, Connor Fox Last and a great-great niece, Zarah Fox.

In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by a brother, James W. Fox; a niece, Marilyn Fox, and a nephew, William O. Fox.

Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Warrick-Kummer-Rettig Funeral Home, Columbiana. Burial will follow in Columbiana Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m.-12 Noon Wednesday at the funeral home.