Obituary of James Foster

James Worth Foster Jim Foster was born in Providence, Kentucky, on February 23, 1923, the son of A.V. and Inez Moore Foster. He was schooled in Memphis, St. Louis and Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Chicago Technical College.. He enlisted in what was then the U.S.Army Air Corps in the summer of 1940, soon after graduating from high school. During his first year and a half in service, the Air Corps trained him to be a weather observer, and later sent him to the West Point Preparatory School. Jim graduated from West Point Prep soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and he applied for service overseas. He was sent to London, England as a meteorologist. Early in 1943, Jim returned to the United States for Aerial Navigator training. After a year in training, he flew from Savannah, Georgia to Port Moresby, New Guinea as navigator and co-pilot on a B-25 medium bomber. He was assigned to a low level bombing and strafing squadron. After several missions as a pathfinder, Jim was made Squadron Navigator. He flew during the American advance through New Guinea and Indonesia to the Philippines, taking part in the invasion of Luzon and the sea battles of Leyte Gulf and the Bismarck Archipelago. He was decorated for meritorious service by the American and Philippine governments. At the end of World War II, Jim married Florence Lockhart, a fellow Air Force officer from Durham, N.C. They settled in Durham and Jim went to work for Duke Power Company. Florence, Jim and their three daughters were moved to Charlotte by Duke in 1955. He was a licensed Professional Engineer. Jim retired from Duke as Vice President in 1988. He donated his time to several non-profit organizations in Charlotte, including Spirit Square. He was on the Board of Directors of the Nature Museum. Jim was active in local and national engineering and genealogical societies. A long-time member of the Park Road Baptist Church, he taught the Senior Men?s Sunday School Class. After the death of his wife, Florence, he traveled as a hobby. He moved to Sharon Towers Retirement Community in 2006. He enjoyed his life there, volunteering in the library and on several committees. He served at vice president of the Residents? Council in 2007 and was elected president for 2008. Jim is survived by three daughters, Ellen Foster of Charlotte, Susan Battle of Atlanta and Dr. Ann Foster of Washington, D.C. and her husband Paul Sutton. Also, he is survived by grandchildren Kate Battle and James Battle of Atlanta, and nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by a sister Carole Zang of St. Louis. Funeral services for Mr. Foster will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009 in the chapel of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service with the Reverends Russ and Amy Jacks Dean officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn West Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family would like to thank the staff of Sharon Towers and most especially the staff on 2nd floor Healthcare.