Steve Fox, 76, of Charleston, passed away on March 26, 2026. He was born to Charles and Norma Fox on October 24, 1949 in Mansfield, OH.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan Fox, sister Allenna Evans (Bruce) of Columbia, TN, brother Chris Fox (Laurie) of Fredericktown, OH; children Shane Fox (Dana) of Old Hickory, TN, Scott Fox (Amanda) and Stormy Lunsford (Jason) of Charleston; grandchildren: Tatum Hicks (Brad), Ellie Fortner (Kaler), Laurel Fox, Braxton Fox, Davis Fox, Dawson Lunsford, Gage Fox, Maddox Fox, Campbell Lunsford, and Piper Fox.
Steve graduated from Ontario High School in 1967, then met Susan Dawson at Ohio Valley College in Parkersburg later that year, which changed everything. They married less than 2 years later and after graduating from Harding University in 1971, he and Susan settled (permanently) in the Kanawha Valley and he preached at the Elkview, Kanawha City, and Park Avenue Churches of Christ during his 50 year career in ministry. He practiced what he preached in the pulpit (he ‘took it to the street’, to paraphrase one of his beloved Doobie Brothers songs) by seeking out ways to serve his community through organizations like Big Brother/Big Sisters of the Tri-State and Little League Baseball, teaching and counseling at youth camps in Pt. Pleasant, Beckley, and Ona, coaching youth sports, officiating track meets, teaching a Bible class at CAMC-General and coaching track at John Adams Middle School for over 20 years. The family was blessed to receive friends in the final weeks of his life and hear stories about their interactions with Steve that changed their lives. God gave him the ability to make a friend in about 5 minutes and the heart to listen and help anyone. He used his gifts well.
He fell in love with the people of Nicaragua and Guatemala through his work with Health Talents International on over 20 trips, which prompted him to learn Spanish and speak it frequently, regardless of whether those around him understood Spanish or not. He loved doing card and magic tricks and telling jokes in Spanish to the children of Managua. He would tell them about his own grandchildren, who were a continual source of joy to him. If you talked to Steve any time after 1998, you likely heard a grandchild story.
He was a life-long runner and formed countless friendships in the Kanawha Running Club. He ran in the inaugural Charleston Distance Run in 1973 (and didn’t miss another one for over 40 years) and over a dozen marathons, including the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996, as an ‘unqualified’ runner. He qualified the next year and completed the race in 3 hours and 9 minutes.
Steve Fox was motivated by the love of God, supported by the love of his ‘Suzi’, and energized by love shared with others. His zeal for life and love of family and friends will be sorely missed by all, regardless of whether you called him Steve, Dad, Poppa, Brother, Coach, Friend, or Preacher. To know him was to feel unconditionally loved.
Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m., with funeral to follow, on Saturday April 4, 2026 at Kanawha City Church of Christ, 5101 Chesterfield Ave, Charleston, WV 25304.
In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Health Talents International at www.healthtalents.org/payments-donations or Hubbard Hospice House at https://www.hospicecarewv.org/make-a-donation/.
Online condolences may be sent to haferfuneralhome.net
Arrangements are in the care of Hafer Funeral Home, 50 North Pinch Road, Elkview.
