Donald Box 5/13/1915 -1/5/2007

Donald Lyndon Box, 91, life-long fire fighter, Christian servant, and raconteur, died Friday, January 5, in Rusk, Texas. Before he retired in 1980 after 33 years with the Fort Worth Fire Department, school children throughout the city knew him as “Fireman Box” for his lively safety demonstrations.

Baptized in a country creek by Foy E. Wallace at the age of 10, he served as a deacon in every church he attended before he moved to Rusk in 1989. He was as an elder of the Rusk Church of Christ for over a decade.

Born in Dublin, TX, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp as a fire fighter in 1933. He volunteered in the Denton Fire Department while attending North Texas State Teachers College 1935-39. He became fire chief at North American Aviation in 1941. During World War II, he served as a fire fighter in the U. S. Army Air Force at Love Field, then in the U. S. Army at Fort Hood until the war ended.

He served in the Fort Worth Fire Department 17 years before becoming fire safety officer. His photo often appeared in the Fort Worth Star Telegram with his faithful Dalmatian dog Cinderella Sparky, who helped with his demonstrations.

After retiring in 1980, he and his wife Mattie opened Romance Antiques near Romance, AR. They sold the store in 1989 and traveled in eight states, conducting antique shows while operating booths in antique malls in Little Rock, Palestine, and Rusk.

Known for his large family, Mr. Box was a strong family man and loved to brag about his eight children and tell stories about his ancestors’ escapades in moving through the southern states to settle in Texas.

Mr. Box made friends instantly, from the grocery store clerk or gas station attendant to neighbors and church visitors. He was active in church, teaching Bible classes, visiting the sick, and sharing his faith until prevented in the last two years due to failing health.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mattie Box of Rusk; eight children, Ramona Gililland, Smithville; Don Box, Hurst; Marquita Moss, Austin; Melany Shook, Arlington; Tahna Cody, Douglass, Jon Box, Chantilly, VA; Camille Moore, Australia; and Gayle “Dorene” Garza, Ringgold, GA; 22 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; a sister Gene Maikell, Austin; brothers Madison Box, Midland, and Johnny Box, Fort Worth.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Rusk Church of Christ.