Charles Calvin Foster (formerly of Washington, KS) died Sunday, May 13, 2018 at the age of 97 at Mustang Creek Estates, Sachse, TX.

He was born in Trenton, MO to James Foster and Mary Hawk on November 23, 1920. He was one of eight children and grew up on a farm in Effingham, KS during the Depression. He graduated from Atchison Co. Community High School in 1939 and then went to Parsons Junior College in Kansas where he played football for 2 years. After junior college, he joined the Navy during WWII and was on a light cruiser sent to the South Pacific Theater of the war. His ship was in the battles of Guadalcanal, Okinawa, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, and finally Japan. On a 15-day leave, he came home and married Evelyn Anna Gigstad on December 30, 1944 and then returned to the ship. He was discharged in October of 1945.

After his discharge he attended Kansas State University and graduated in 1948. Charlie worked for the Soil Conservationist Service for his whole career except for taking over his dad’s farm for 7 years. He and Evelyn lived in many places (Osborne, Washington, Monrovia, Oskaloosa, all in Kansas) but moved back to Washington in 1961 where he lived until 2016 when he moved to Texas to be closer to his children.

Charlie was very involved in community activities: Boy Scout leader, Lions Club (for 50 years), and the Methodist Church. He loved gardening, woodworking, and especially golf which he took up in retirement and accomplished a hole in one. Charlie was an avid Kansas State fan and loved watching the games on TV. He also attended all his children’s activities (music and sports) while they were at Washington High School.

Charles was preceded in his death by his wife Evelyn and one grandson. He is survived by his children: Greg (Mary Ann) Foster of Centennial, CO; Carol (Gary) Gray, Sachse, TX; Alan (Cathy) Foster of Blue Springs, MO; Tom (Susan) Foster of Dallas, TX; and Richard Foster of Tulsa, OK. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and his brother Raymond Foster of Horton, KS.

Charlie’s ashes will be buried alongside his wife at the Effingham KS cemetery after a service at The Union Church, Effingham, KS on June 2 at 10:30 am. Memorials may be made to the First United Church of Washington, KS in honor of Charles Foster.

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