OCCUPATION: President of the General Industries Co. of Elyria


OBIT:
WILLIAM EARL FOSTER, 85, of Key Largo, FL, and Linville Ridge, NC, died Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. Mr. Foster was born Nov. 23, 1921, in Toronto, Canada. In 1933 he moved with his family to Elyria, OH, which would become his home for much of his life. He had a very happy and active childhood, and it was during this time that he learned to bird hunt from his grandfather Claude Foster, with whom he enjoyed an especially close relationship. Mr. Foster graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1941. He credited Culver with teaching him the discipline and honor which would serve him well for the remainder of his life. In 1942 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army's field artillery. He subsequently joined the Army Air Corps where he served as a pilot and flight instructor for the remainder of the war. After his discharge, Mr. Foster took a job as a stock chaser at General Industries in Elyria, where he quickly ascended the ranks to become President in 1957. During his 15-year tenure the company flourished, increasing sales 10-fold and becoming the largest custom molder of plastics in the country. He served on the boards of many local businesses including the National City Bank of Cleveland, the Elyria Telephone Company, the Kasper Foundry Company and the Elyria Company. A major theme in Mr. Foster's life was serving his community. He was president of the Lorain County Sheriff's Advisory Council, the Elyria Country Club, the Lorain County Community Foundation, the Cleveland Chapter of the Young President's Organization and the Ocean Reef Art League. He also served as commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and as chairman of the Card Sound Sailing Club race committee. Mr. Foster was preceded in death by his son, William E. Foster Jr. who died serving his country in Vietnam, his wife, Mary Jo Foster and his parents, Earl and Frances Foster. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Foster, his brother, Donald Foster, his three children, and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Key Largo Anglers Club at a later date

1. 2. William E. FOSTER, Jr.   b. 17 May 1943; d. 12 Sep 1968, Vietnam.
2. 3. Michael FOSTER  
3. 4. Allen FOSTER  
4. 5. Judith FOSTER  

OBIT: Name: Foster, Sp. 4 William E. Jr.
Date: Sep 28 1968
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #109.
Notes: Sp. 4 William E. Foster Jr. A family mass for Army Sp. 4 William E. Foster, 25, killed in action in Vietnam Sept. 12, will be Monday at St. Jude Catholic Church, Elyria. Graveside services to which friends are invited, will be at Brookdale Cemetery, Oberlin Road, Elyria, at 12:15 p.m. Monday. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Foster Sr.; brothers, Michael and Allen; a sister Judith and his maternal and paternal grandparents. His father is president of the General Industries Co. of Elyria. The family home, where friends will be received from 2-5 p.m. tomorrow, is at 184 Overbrook Road, Elyria. Mr. Foster was a great-grandson of the late Claud Foster, a Cleveland industrialist and philanthropist and a great-nephew of the former U. S. Sen. Thomas A. Burke.

RESIDENCES: 1968 - Elyria, Lorain, Ohio

MILITARY: VietNam casualties
Name: Foster William Earl Jr
Birth Date: 05/17/43
Death Date: 09/12/68
Race: Caucasian
Home City: Elyria
State: Ohio
Date Tour Began: 671211
Length of Service: 01
SSN/Service #: 51830301
Casualty Type: Non-Hostile - Died of Other Causes
Branch of Service: Army
Religion: 62
Sex: Male
Marital Status: Single
Posthumous Promotion: No