Drew Henry Foss' Obituary
Drew Foss, 86, died September 14th, at his Old Town home. Born in Tacoma to Agnes and Henry Foss, grandson of Andrew and Thea Foss and Andrew and Sophie Hansen. He attended University Place School, Jason Lee, Stadium High School and the University of Washington.During his school vacations Drew spent his time working at the company learning everything from shipyard work to construction, spinning oakum and caulking. At the age of 14 he started his towboat career on a trip to Alaska on the tug Foss 21. From then on he worked as night dispatcher and eventually operated any and all tugs as relief captain until June 1941, when he went to Wake Island to be a relief skipper. It was there, on Dec. 23rd, that he and sixteen hundred military and civilian workers were captured by the Japanese.He returned home on May 7th, 1945, after four years as a POW in Japan.Drew returned to work for Foss, in the shipyard building mooring facilities for surplus ships, purchasing equipment and eventually moved into the office as chief dispatcher in 1947. He worked his way up through the company serving as Secretary, executive Vice President and then Chairman of the Board. After the company was sold to Dillingham, Drew served as Vice President of Alaska Operations until he retired at the age of 55 and moved back to Washington.He served on the boards of the Tacoma Club; Tacoma Chamber of Commerce; Propeller Club; Washington Athletic Club; the Japan-American Society of Seattle; Tacoma Savings and Loan (27 years); and was President of the Puget Sound Towboat Association. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and Tacoma Country and Golf Club.In Alaska, he was a member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, a Charter member and President of the US Propeller Club, Port of Anchorage, the ICC, Petroleum Club, and the Executive Committee of Hope Cottage.Drew married Donna J. Smith in 1947 raising their family on Steilacoom Lake. After returning from Alaska they settled into their new home in Gig Harbor. Donna passed away in 1977.Drew liked to keep busy. Never idle even after his eyesight deteriorated, he still enjoyed making apple cider and jam. It didnÂ't matter if you were a close friend or the person who worked on his car, the person behind the counter of the hardware store or a Â"paperboy,Â" you were given a jar of jam, a bottle of apple cider, and sometimes both. If you knew Drew, you tasted his jam.When in Hawaii, you could set your watch by the time he met his swimming buddies for a swim in the oceanÂ...4:30. The only time this schedule changed was due to inclement weather.Drew was strong, handsome, soft spoken, gracious, forgiving, and humorous. These traits never waned in the last few hard months of his life. Everyday he made sure that there were smiles and hugs. He left a bit of his warmth and humor in all who knew him; he will be deeply missed!Drew is survived by his loving wife Diane, of 27 years, his daughters Leslie Foss, (Ken Johnson); Brynn Rydell (Harry); Carol Johnson (Jimmie); step daughter Leslie Miller, stepson Tracy Hull (Julie) and six grandchildren: Garth, Marshall, Emma, Nathan, Kyla and Jordan.The family offers their deepest appreciation to Hospice and especially to Joyce Thomas, Lisa Day and Ida Jacobs.A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm, October 21st at the Working Waterfront Maritime Museum, 705 Dock St., in Tacoma.Memorials may be made to the Working Waterfront Maritime Museum.
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