Danny Allen Fox, a beloved partner, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on November 20, 2025. Born on April 29, 1947, Danny’s life was full of love, laughter, and service to others.
Danny was born in Missouri to Rubben and Earnesteen Fox; he was the “son of a preacher man.” As a baby, he moved to Idaho before settling in California as a young child. Danny was preceded in death by his parents: Rubben and Earnesteen, brothers: Roy and Elbert, sister: Bonnie, and infant son: JD. Danny is survived by his loving partner, Peggy, his daughter, Tracey (Stoney), his son, Dusty (Julie), his step-daughter, Amber (Patrick), and his step-daughter, Coral (Brandon). He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren, who lovingly called him “G-Pa.”
After graduating high school in Lodi, Danny went to barber college. Before long, he had his own barber shop in the town of Escalon. Many people in Escalon had their hair cut by Danny, and even after he stopped working as a barber, he continued giving “back patio haircuts” to friends and family alike. After leaving his career as a barber, Danny served as a police officer in Tracy and Manteca before settling into a position with the Escalon Police Department, eventually achieving the role of lieutenant, where he advocated for positive community police interactions.
Even while working for the Escalon PD, he found the time to finish his BA at University of San Francisco. To get even more involved in this community that he adored, he became a member of the Rotary Club and especially enjoyed his time serving as president. In 1998, he volunteered to serve with the United Nations peace-keeping mission in war-torn Kosovo. The two years Danny spent in Kosovo were life-changing; he often reflected on that time and made it apparent that those were truly meaningful years of his life. To further support the Escalon community after returning from Kosovo, Danny served on the city council for 12 years, including a role he was especially proud of, as mayor of this town he loved so much. Needing to stay busy post-retirement, he worked as a background investigator for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s department. And after his second retirement, needing to stay busy (still), he worked as an executive driver for the Gallo family.
After a myriad of careers and terms of service, Danny settled into a very joy-filled chapter of his life. He and his beloved partner, Peggy, loved taking it easy at home, supporting their grandchildren in all of their many sports and activities, traveling to their dream destinations, enjoying time with each other, and maintaining a slower pace of life. Even in this more relaxed chapter of his life, Danny never stopped serving this community and his acts of kindness were often the silent kind. He never expected accolades for the work he did behind the scenes. When a yard needed mowing, a tree needed trimming, a street drain needed unclogging, or a person’s fruit trees needed picking, Danny was the first to notice the issue and step in to help.
Although Danny loved helping others, he also found enjoyment in the simplicity around him. His love of the outdoors was apparent to everyone who knew him. He was an avid bird-watcher who adored feeding and watching the birds in his backyard. Danny loved yard work so much that when he finished meticulously grooming his own yard, he found other yards that also needed tending. He walked miles around town, chatting with people along the way. When the weather forced him indoors, Danny loved doing jigsaw puzzles and completed hundreds over the past few years.
Danny’s memory will live on through his adoring family, his cherished friends, and all of the people who knew him, whose lives have been forever changed by his unwavering love and support.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 6 at the Escalon Community Center at 11 a.m.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Dec. 3, 2025
