Jack Foster Obituary

Jack Cox Foster, the father of Durango resident Bob Foster, died on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, in Owensboro, Ky. He was 93.

Mr. Foster was born to Tate Ross and Annie Velma (Bolin) Foster in Canton, Texas, on Aug. 28, 1915. His family ran the Foster Dairy.

Mr. Foster was the quarterback of the Canton Eagles and valedictorian of the Class of 1933. He went on to earn degrees in journalism and history from the University of Texas in 1939.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, he lived in Downers Grove, Ill., from 1948 to 1977. While living there, he was active in the Methodist Church, the D.G. Pool Association and Boy Scouts. He also served on the school board.

Mr. Foster owned Triton Co., a distributor in the industrial market, in Chicago.

He retired to Lewisport, Ky., in 1977, where he wrote a weekly historical column "So It's Been Told" for 22 years. The columns have been bound into two books and received a Kentucky Historical Society Community Service Award in 1993.

Mr. Foster was a member of the Methodist Church, Lions, Hancock Historical Society and a founder of the Hancock County Historical Museum and Hancock County High School Young Historians. He did newspaper and poster publicity for numerous organizations. Mr. Foster was instrumental in the Historian of the Year dinner and award, courthouse time capsule and historical markers.

Mr. Foster received several awards, including Hancock County Citizen of the Year, Hancock County Historian of the Year and The Award of Distinction from the Kentucky Historical Society in 1988 for preserving local history.

He enjoyed hiking with his kids and was a prolific letter writer. He entertained family and friends with his harmonica.

Mr. Foster was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Bonnie Delle (McBride) Foster; and infant daughter Mary Delle Foster.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mildred (Emmick) Goodman Foster, of Lewisport, Ky.; sons Bob Foster of Durango and Steve Foster of Los Angeles; daughter, Marsha Foster Weaver of Muncie, Ind.; stepson, Neil Goodman of Lewisport; stepdaughter, Leta Benest; sister, Agness Robertson of Dallas; brother, Bill Foster of Denver; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at the Lewisport United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hancock County Museum or the Lewisport United Methodist Church.