A. Dale Fox, 75, a 38-year resident of Fairfax, Virginia, died peacefully at his home on Marlborough Road on November 14th following a long battle with brain cancer.
Fox was a retired U.S. Navy Commander with a distinguished career that included two commands on Navy minesweepers. Fox was an Administrative Aid and Flag Secretary to the Military Sealift Command. He also served as Executive Assistant in the office of the Chairman of the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff and was their Director for International Negotiations during the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between the U.S and the Soviet Union.
Dale was an accomplished diver and avid scuba instructor his entire life. He was a Master Instructor with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and served NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) both on their Board of Directors and as Interim Executive Director. Just last June, he was inducted into the NAUI Hall of Honor. In his retirement Dale was a key leader with PSI (Professional Scuba Inspectors) where he actively promoted safety within the diving community.
Fox was born in Chicago on September 7th, 1941 -- three months to the day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He grew up along the shores of Lake Michigan in Gary, Indiana. Summers during his youth were spent boating on Osterhout Lake in Southwestern Michigan. He graduated from Wirt High School before earning a degree in Political Science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. There his career was launched through the school’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). He went on to attend Officer Candidate School and the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
He is survived by his long-time companion, Marian Howell of Fairfax and Farnham, VA, who lovingly served as care-giver throughout his lengthy illness. He is also survived by his brother, Gregg Fox and sister-in-law Martha of Rockport, Massachusetts, and their two children: Christopher Whitney Fox of Rockport and Emily Mansur Fox of Brookline. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Arthur and Dorothy Fox of Sarasota, FL.
An all-around good guy, Dale and his hearty laugh will be fondly remembered by a fun-loving community of neighbors, friends and dive buddies who frequented parties in and around his large backyard pool.
Dale Fox was a Master Mason level Freemason. He was also a member of the Milden Presbyterian Church on Virginia’s Northern Neck where he proudly served as Elder and Clerk of the Session. He will be buried near the church and not very far from the riverside home that he loved.
The funeral service begins at 1PM on Wednesday, November 30th at the Milden Presbyterian Church in Sharps, VA. A burial follows before a reception in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Capital Caring Hospice, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042, or to the charity of your choice.
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