John Arthur Foster's Obituary
John Arthur Foster, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Foster, passed away November 26, 2022 in Tacoma Washington. He was born January 17, 1928 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The family relocated to New Lisbon, Wisconsin in the 1930s. As a child he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and played high school football. After graduating from high school, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a World War II veteran. He completed his active-duty service and moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1949. John took full advantage of the many outdoor recreational opportunities available in the Northwest: he climbed to the summit of Mt. Rainier, built and sailed a boat in Puget Sound, enjoyed camping trips with his family, was especially fond of deer and pheasant hunting, and engaged in gold prospecting in the Cascades.
John married Beverly Sundberg in 1952 and they had two children. In addition to being supportive of his children’s educational goals, John continued his own education. He studied electronics at the vocational technical institute, earned a degree from Tacoma Community College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education from Southern Illinois University.
John’s early occupational pursuits included time as a police dispatcher, an announcer for KTNT Radio, and employment at Boeing. Later, he accepted a position at Bates Technical College as an electronics instructor and retired from that institution as a supervisor of trade and industrial education. His civic involvement included service as president of the Tacoma Lions Club and a Life Member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
John is survived by his son, a daughter-in-law, three step-grandchildren, seven great step-grandchildren, a sister, a sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. He is buried at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood, Washington. The family requests that those wishing to honor his memory make donations to the Bates Technical College Foundation
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