James Fred Foster's Obituary
James (Jim) Fred Foster was born in Lubbock, Texas on September 3, 1945, to James Clarence Foster and Edith Fredarhe (Slatter) Foster. He was later joined by sister, Joann and brother, Charlie.
Jim grew up living in several places in the western US, including Farmington, New Mexico, Mohave, California, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Neah Bay, Washington. He grew up fishing, hunting and camping with parents and grandparents. In 1964, he graduated from high school in Neah Bay at the top of his class of three with a GPA of 2.65. His working career began as a sack boy for Piggly Wiggly and delivering newspapers for the Denver Post. Upon graduation, he worked the summer as a logger in the woods of the Olympic Peninsula Washington. He started college after that summer before receiving his draft notice. He entered the US Army in April 1965 as an Airborne Combat Engineer. He was then transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia for jump school and then attached to the Special Forces Training Brigade for medical training at Fort Sam Hoston, Texas. Next stop was a transfer to the 101st Airborne Division 326th Combat Engineer Brigade at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He spent a year there before being transferred to the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a Combat Engineer and deployed to the highlands of Vietnam in April 1967. He was honorably discharged from active duty in April 1968 at the rank of Sgt, E-5. Upon discharge he moved to Dallas, Texas and worked as a draftsman and designer at the old Dallas Power and Light Company. He continued his college education and earned an Associates Degree in drafting. He worked for awhile as a trim carpenter before moving to a consulting engineering firm, URS Forrest and Cotton. He finally moved to work for Geophysical Services/Texas Instruments to begin a 31-year career as a draftsman and designer.
Jim was involved in the Boy Scouts in the Circle Ten Council. A friend told him, “you look good in khaki”. He started when son Andrew was a Tiger Cub in Pack 1036 and later as a Scout in Troop 145 in Garland. Along the way he advised many scouts to help attain their rank of Eagle Scout, including his son. He helped coordinate and provide transport for many local camping trips for the troop, along with a longer trip to Camp Alexander in Colorado and the New River Adventure in Virginia. During this time he continued his leadership training, gaining his Wood Badge and working with the Order of the Arrow. After Andrew attained his Eagle Badge, they both moved to Venture Crew 1298 at Camp Wisdom. Jim worked as an Adult Advisor for the youth of his crew specializing in their blacksmithing program.
Jim was a lifelong collector of rocks and fossils. His first date with his future wife, Kathleen, was looking for and collecting fossils in the Arbuckle Mountains in Oklahoma. He loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and hunting. He was fond of saying he did a lot of fishing, but only a little bit of catching. He mainly enjoyed God’s creations on and around the lakes and felt mostly at peace outdoors. He is now fishing with all of his family and friends.
Jim loved to tell involved stories of his “escapades” growing up and his children were often amazed that he survived to tell the tale. He also told elaborate jokes to them and anyone who would listen. He was a Master of the “Dad joke”.
Jim is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kathleen, his brother, Charles Foster of Colorado Springs, Colorado, sister, Joann Larsen of Hamilton, Ohio and brother-in-law Michael Hastings of Burleson, Texas. Also survived by his children, Pennie Benson and husband Brock of Sherman, Texas, Katherine Foster of Dallas, Texas and Andrew Foster and wife Meredith of Conway, Arkansas, grandchildren, Dalton Jones and wife Megan, Sydney Benson, Baily Benson and Mackenzie Foster, along with numerous nieces and nephew-in-laws and their children.
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