Joseph Foy, 98, died Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Marion VA Medical Center, Marion, Indiana. Burial is at Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Jersey City, Joseph spent most of his life in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was baptized at Church of the Sacred Heart, Jersey City. He was born to Joseph Aloysius Foy and Mary Elsa (Krumholz) Foy in 1925, in Brooklyn, New York. His father, decorated with the Purple
Heart, was Foreman for the Jersey City Dept. of Public Works. His mother was a Head Bookkeeper. His wife of almost 65 years, Loretta Irene (Bidwell) Foy, died in March 2017. Loretta was born in Garrett, IN, to Jay H. Bidwell and Ethel A. (Ritter) Bidwell. Survivors include: son, Timothy (Lynn) Foy; daughters, Kathleen (Steven) Wolford, Maureen (Gregory Breese) Foy and Eileen (Gordy) Stafford; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren;
sister-in-law Elizabeth (Boszor) Bidwell; three nephews, Daniel, Dennis and Dean; and one neice, Deborah. In addition to his wife, Loretta, Joseph was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Donald Bidwell, his sister-in-law, Rutheda (Bidwell) Hibbins, and his nephew, David Bidwell. Joseph F. Foy, was born an only child, but, he had many cousins, as his grandfather was a first generation immigrant from Ireland who then had ten children. Both Joe's father and father-in-law were WWI veterans. Joe witnessed the affects WWI and three purple hearts had on his own father who fought in battles at Somme, Flanders Belgium, Argonne Forest, Metz, and La Havre. Yet, just 17 years old and only half way through high school, while working as a technician (condenser tester) at Jackson Bros. Radio Service, Joe enlisted as Apprentice Seaman in the U.S. Naval Service-Coast Guard, with four older cousins already on their way to WWII battles. Joseph, stationed mainly in Greenland as radio operator, served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1943 to
1946. He was 1 st an Apprentice Seaman, 3 mos.; then, Seaman 2 nd Class, 6 mos.; and then Petty Officer 3 rd Class - RM 3/C (or Radioman 3 rd Class) 2 yrs; having completed Student Radioman School; HF/DF (or high frequency direction finder) & Code Flags. No purple hearts, but is considered to be 'one lucky guy'; narrowly escaped 3 times: His own ship, while traveling through Gibraltar, was broadsided by an ammunition ship, hitting dead center at the bunk next to his own; and so the ship was towed by the Navy to Bermuda for repairs, instead of continuing its mission. In another instance, he was trapped head first in a snow bank, but was found and only suffered pneumonia. In a third instance, he was to return to the states with 29 other men. Instead, he and 3 others were ordered to leave earlier aboard a ship, while the remaining men were detained to guard against potential Russian attack. Joe learned about 50 years later, the other men never made it home; their plane went down. He was honorably discharged and received entitlement to three medals: American Area Medal, Victory Medal and European African Middle East Area Medal. After returning home, he worked at Western Union Telegraph Company, and completed his high school education at Dickinson High, with a focus on Electrical studies, graduating in 1948. He then left Jersey City, New Jersey in April 1948 to further his education in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After finding work at Kroger Bakery, he pursued his first degree at Indiana Institute of Technology, using the GI bill, which paid for school + $75.00 per month. He rented a house shared with 5 other guys at a cost to him of about $48/month. On Christmas breaks in 1948 - 1950, went back to Jersey & worked at the post office. He also worked at United Vacuum Cleaners for a year. By 1952 he had completed all course work but one class. He decided to remain in Ft Wayne. He ended his sales of sweepers and began work at Magnavox. He met Loretta Irene Bidwell in March 1952, at a Dance Hall near Calhoun and Williams Sts.; was engaged to be married in April and married Loretta in August. His first child arrived the next year. In 1953, while still at Magnavox, started own business F&R Appliance Sales and Service, with George Reagan, at the corner of Chute Street and Maumee Avenue. The distributor, A. B. Gray, told Joe upon delivery, that Joe had just sold the first color television set in the in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the regional district. He completed his first college degree at IIT in 1955, a year before his second child arrived. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering (minor, Electrical Engineering). Joe had two more children, and continued at Magnavox as an Electronic Product Engineer. While Magnavox's military division had a focus on the navy, Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation had a focus on the radio for the air core. After twelve years with Magnavox, he left to join Syncro Corp. as Plant Superintendent, in 1964. Beginning in late 1950's, Syncro produced electrolytic capacitors for the electronics industry in two plants in Edgerton and Hicksville, Ohio. A couple years later, Joe moved to the north side of town and began working at General Telephone &
Electronics Corporation. He was a Senior Transmission Engineer & Program Implementation Administrator. During his 18 years at GTE, he continued his studies and completed two more college degrees at St Francis College: a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, in 1968, and a Master of Science in Business Administration, in 1974. After leaving GTE, he started Blue Star Realty, as Owner/Operator, until 2017. Joseph greatly contributed to Fort Wayne's revitalization: he walked many door-to-door campaigns; made a powerful run for political office, as City County Council, winning the primary on the Republican ticket; and ran for State Representative. Joe was very influential in the success of State Street Merchants area; he headed the fight for the proper location of a neighborhood fire station, for residential down zoning, for retaining the State School Dedication Monument. Joe pushed for locating parks instead of jailhouses, keeping the Allen County jail from being placed on State Street. The location is now known as Bob Arnold Park, instead of the Allen County jail. Joe was significant in locating park fountains, and cleaning up of the city's three rivers. He was a major
force behind Citizens' Crime Watch, having established citizen crime watch areas. He led a Candidates Forum in Fort Wayne, (neighborhood association candidates night); and served as Inspector at multiple election precincts. Joe Foy was a Board Member of: Sand Bag Coalition, Allen County Economic Opportunity Council Inc. (appointed by Allen county commissioner), Fort Wayne Advisory Board (CETA - appointed by Mayor Robert Armstrong and retained by Mayor Winfield Moses), Lake Wawasee Marine Land Gardens Community Association, and General Credit Union. Joseph was selected for a round table meeting with President Ronald Reagan; he served as Board Chairman of the Selective Service Draft Board, and as a steering committee member for the Northeast Area Partnership of neighborhoods. He was Vice President of the Neighborhood Alliance Council, which sponsored a weekly 1-hour TV program on Channel 10. Joe was Canterbury Green Toastmasters Club #857's President; Toastmasters International, Area 1 Governor, and Toastmasters Club #159's President. In that capacity, he presented a half hour radio program, the "Average Joe" Show on "Windows on Fort Wayne", consisting of Round Table discussions, Interviews with city officials, Call-in Answer and Question sessions, and a Series of
programs on such subjects as juvenile delinquency, city planning and other current topics of the time. Joe was Treasurer for the Committee to Restore Basic Education; Chairman of the Annual Election year Political Forum; a Steering Committee Member of the Northeast Area Partnership of Neighborhoods. And he was Board Member, President and Founder of Northside Neighborhood Association, one of the largest in Ft Wayne, which covers 861 acres, and was created in 1975. Additional involvements were: Lake Wawasee Crowe's Nest Yacht Club, Board Member and Commodore; Neighborhood Awards Selection Committee, Member; American Legion post #47, Member; St. Jude Catholic Church, Member; Bishop Dwenger Music Booster Club, President; N.E. Indiana Board of Realtors; and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Instructor. He enjoyed participating in Living History Day at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Joe spoke to the students about: his military service, military service opportunities, academics, and the
depression of the 1930's. Joe walked a mile a day through his 95 th year, weather permitting down to the park and back to the 1911 home he purchased 57 years ago. He sailed his 23 foot O'Day thru the age of 90. He loved the company of his son and daughters, their children, and his pal Trixy, the cat. He never seemed to take a break. He never owned a new vehicle, but sent his four children to parochial schools. No expensive vacations, but plenty sledding, skating, swimming and band instruments. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. He marched Memorial Day parades wearing his WWII cap and carrying a neighborhood association banner. He was God's child, driven to provide value to society. The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel noted Joseph's volunteerism in an article November14, 2007. "It's just unfortunate that every neighborhood doesn't have a Joe Foy." The Northside Neighborhood board had declared that year as "Year of Joe Foy". This was in recognition for all his efforts, something usually done when one retires from service. The board didn't wait, realizing Joe would never retire from service to others. As Dan Wire of Fort Wayne said, "He is as honest and sincere as the day is long, and always puts the good of the neighbors before himself." Funeral Service is 10:30, Friday, August 4, 2023 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 2130 Pemberton Dr., 46805, with calling one hour prior. Calling is also 4-8 p.m., Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Covington
Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road. He will be laid to rest at Lindenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to (Joseph Foy in memo): American Legion Dept. of Indiana (include in memo: Hoosier Boys State); Evans Scholars Foundation; 2501 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60026-8022 or www.wgaesf.org; Engineering Dean's Excellence Fund; Indiana Institute Technology, 1600 E Washington Blvd, Ft
Wayne 46803; University of Saint Francis of Fort Wayne Indiana Inc; Fort Wayne Animal Control & Care, 3020 Hillegas Rd, Fort Wayne 46808.