Mr. Leverne Smith Fox, Sr., 96, of Old Bristol Road, Boone, passed away Wednesday morning, September 19, 2012, at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.

Born August 26, 1916, in Watauga County, he was a son of the late Filmore Franklin and Lena Mae Smith Fox. Leverne was a member of the First Baptist Church. He was a WWII Army Veteran in the 509th Parachute Infantry serving in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He was the recipient of two bronze stars and a purple heart. Leverne was the owner and operator of Fox's Phillips 66 for a number of years and along with his wife owned Store House for Your Jewel Childcare. Mr. Fox was a former member of the Boone Optimist Club.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geneva Cannon Fox; two sons, Leverne S. Fox, Jr., and wife, Amy, of Banner Elk and Len Fox and wife, Susan, of Boone; two grandchildren, Meredith Fox of Banner Elk and Will Fox of Davidson; one niece, Ramona Prestwood and husband, Dallas, of Winston Salem; and one nephew, Johnny Craig of Lenoir. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Geraldine Craig and by two brothers, Ray and Roy Fox.

Funeral services for Mr. Leverne Fox Sr. will be conducted 2 p.m. Friday at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be the Rev. Roy Dobyns. Burial with military honors provided by American Legion Post 130 will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 to 2 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 375 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607 or to the Project on Aging - Meals on Wheels, 132 Poplar Grove Connector Road, Suite A, Boone, NC 28607.

Online condolences may be expressed to the Fox family at http://www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Fox family.