Lawrence Hubert "Herb" Fox

Lawrence Hubert “Herb” Fox, 93, of Freeburg, IL, born April 18, 1914 in Vincennes, IN, died Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at his residence.


Mr. Fox was a WW II veteran, serving as a MOMM 1C with the U. S. Navy in the Pacific arena aboard the ship USS LCS 115. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to his previous job in the coal mining industry in southern Indiana. He joined Peabody Coal Company in 1953 at the Lynnville mine, later became mine superintendent at River King mine in Illinois, General Superintendent of Peabody Coal Western Division and retired as the General Superintendent of Peabody’s Eastern Surface Division. He was a member of the American Legion Post 683 in St. Libory, IL, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In addition to his work, Mr. Fox loved to raise cattle, was an avid fisherman and a long time fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Many of the Cardinal players and management, including his good friend Whitey Herzog, enjoyed many hours fishing at Mr. Fox’s strip mine lake.


Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Dora, nee Cardinal, Fox, his first wife, Mary Catherine, nee Thomas, Fox who died in 1998 second wife, Helen K., nee Crandall, Fox who died in 2000, three brothers, Sherman, Harold, and Elmer Fox, and three sisters, Dora Allegree, Oma Taylor, and Florene McClain.


He is survived by a son, Larry (Kay) Fox of Belleville, IL, two daughters, Linda (Phillip Field) Pruitt of Newburgh, IN, and Barbara (Rick) Borries of Evansville, IN; nine grandchildren, Brian (Tami) Fox, Alicia (Kevin) Fox Ryan, Angela (Chris Broglin) Pruitt, Shelley (Paul) Gullifor, Mary Catherine Pruitt (Bill) Pedtke, Julie Pruitt, Michael (Betsy) Pruitt, Libby (Mark) Turner, and Susan (Aaron) Reed; 3 step grandchildren, Dara (Gary) Diel, Sue Utley, and Eddie Utley; 15 great grandchildren; and nine step-great grandchildren.


A special thanks to the employees of Copper Bend Sitters and the Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc.


Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. or St. Liborius Building Fund.


Visitation: Visitation will be from 4 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 and from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22 at the Moll Funeral Home in St. Libory, IL. A Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.


Funeral: A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 at St. Liborius Catholic Church in St. Libory, IL, with Rev. Dennis Voss officiating. A private interment service will be held at a later date.