Brenda Arline (Baudendistel) Fox

FOX, Brenda (Benny) Arline, age 80, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at Oak Hill Nursing Center with Good Shepherd Hospice.  Alzheimer’s took Brenda from us long before this day.

Brenda was born in Dayton Ohio, on November 26, 1940 a daughter to William H. and Catherine (Estella) Baudendistel.  Brenda is survived by her daughters Kathy (Marty) Webster of Omaha, Nebraska; Lori (Mitch) Kerlick of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Cheryl (Younes) Rahmanzadeh of Jones, Oklahoma; and Deborah Davis of Tulsa, Oklahoma; And by grandchildren Meghan, David, Joshua, Kian, Laila, and Trey; And by great-grandchildren Dakota, Kaedyn, Noah, and Zane; By brothers William Baudendistel of Middletown, Ohio, James Baudendistel of Hamilton, Ohio, and sisters Beverly Beavers of Bardstown, Kentucky, and Mary Ann Stanifer of Middletown, Ohio, and many nieces and nephews. Brenda was preceded in death by husband James Fox, her parents Booty and Estella, her brothers John and Michael, special sister-in-law Dora, special sister-in-law Ada, special brother-in-law Berlyn, and special niece Elizabeth.

In 1960, at age 20, Brenda enlisted with the United States Marine Corp.  Married first husband Joe B. Chapman and had four daughters.  After divorcing and much later in life, Brenda gave birth to a son, Joe (JB) Bruce Chapman.  Unprecedented circumstances kept mom's first husband in her life, as he married Brenda's sister, Beverly.  Joe and Beverly adopted JB, and raised Joe alongside their four daughters.

Brenda held many jobs, a jack of all trades actually.  The Energizer Bunny couldn't keep up with mom.  As long as she had a cup of coffee at her disposal, she could accomplish it all.  In 1982, she and then husband James Fox, retired to Lake Texoma.  While at Lake Texoma, Brenda and James tried their hand at running a small town diner. and convenient store.  Eventually the two tried their hand at woodcrafts, setting up shop many times for long weekends in Oklahoma City.  James passed in 2002, and soon after Brenda moved back to Oklahoma City.

A Celebration of Life will take place later this year in mom's home state of Ohio. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.