Shirley and Russ Fox

Sunday afternoon, Sept. 11, 75 guests honored the 50th wedding anniversary of Shirley and Russ Fox at the Bell Tower Brewery in Kent. The open house was hosted by their daughters and sons-in-law and other family members.

The newly Bell Tower Brewery is housed in a 1853 brick church which was the former First Congregational Church of Kent until it closed in 1955. Over the years it has been used as different businesses, one of which was apartments. It was the apartment in one of the old Sunday school rooms that Russ and Shirley came home to from their honeymoon in Boston in September of 1972. They were finishing their degrees in education at Kent State.

Shirley Whiteleather and Russell Fox were united in marriage on Sept. 9, 1972, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Minerva (New Franklin) by the Rev. Daryl S. Everett. They are the parents of two daughters, Abigail (Dogan Dattilo) of Dallas, Texas, and Emily (Bryan Johnson) of Paris, Ohio. The family includes grandchildren Fox Ludwig and Laney Reign Johnson; and Millicent Olive and Clementine Oak Dattilo.

The honored couple are retired from United Local and Minerva Local schools were they each taught for 30 years. They are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church where Shirley serves on Church Council and other committees.

The family celebrated earlier in June with a week trip to Emerald Isle, N.C. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and gardening at their country home where they reside, West Township, Moultrie, (Minerva).