LaVern E. Pax
Tomb Position
SentinelTomb Relief
3rdHighest Military Rank
SP4Tomb Dates
Apr 1957 - Oct 1958Society Membership
Lifetime MemberHome City / State
St. Mary, OHCurrent City / State
Pickerington, OHTomb Reflections
Posted during the double internment of the World War II and Korean War UnknownsObituary
Husband, father, and grandfather, LaVern “Vern” Pax, age 86, of Pickerington, formerly of St. Marys, Ohio, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 7, 2022. He was born November 17, 1935 in Celina, Ohio to the late Edmund J. and Frances K. (Meyer) Pax, the 11th of 15 children. On May 6, 1961 he married his beloved wife, Shirley Fischbach and shared 61 wonderful years of marriage with her. She survives at the residence. Vern is also survived by his children, Renee’ (Dana) Metz, Gilbert, AZ, Dana (Stephen) Farley, Sunbury, OH, and Eric Pax, Baltimore, OH; grandchildren, Kyle Metz, Joshua Metz, Emma Pax, Eddy Pax, Kayla Farley, and Michael Farley; sisters, Bernadette Disque, Florentine Cafferky, Barbara Geiser, Edwina Meyers, and Rita Klosterman; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary Brunswich, Leonard Pax, Charles Pax, Ruth Leugers, Norma Irvin, Madonna Issen, Richard Pax, Vincent Pax, and Juanita Schindler.
He graduated from St. Marys Memorial High School in 1953. After a brief career at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., he served in the U.S. Army where he was selected and proudly served as a member of the US Army Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Following his military service, he was employed as an agent for Nationwide Insurance in St. Marys for 32 years. Following his retirement, he and Shirley moved to Pickerington where he engaged in the storage and landscaping business with his son.
He enjoyed spending his time outdoors and meeting people. Vern’s Christian faith was an essential part of his life. He was an engaged member of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, where he served as an usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was always ready with a quick joke or story, but above all, he was immensely proud of his family. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, and will be dearly missed.
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Did you know?
Are the shoes specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet?
The shoes are standard issue military dress shoes. They are built up so the sole and heel are equal in height. This allows the Sentinel to stand with a straight back and perpendicular to the ground. A side effect of this is that the Sentinel can "roll" on the outside of the build up walking down the mat. Done correctly, the hat and bayonet will appear to not "bob" up and down with each step. It gives a more formal, fluid and smooth look to the walk, rather than a "marching" appearance.
The soles have a steel tip on the toe and a "horseshoe" steel plate on the heel. This prevents wear on the sole and allows the Sentinel to move smoothly during his movements when he turns to face the Tomb and then back down the mat.
Then there is the "clicker". It is a shank of steel attached to the inside of the face of the heel build-up on each shoe. It allows the Sentinel to heel click during certain movements. A guard change is considered great when all the heel clicks fall together and sound as one click. The guard change is occasionally done in the "silent" mode (as a sign of devotion to the Unknowns) with no voice commands - every thing is done in relation to the heel clicks and on specific counts.
