Dallas Edward Foster, Sr., 85, of Raleigh and leader of the Polka Plus Band, died peacefully at home May 14, 2019. Dallas was born March 21, 1934 in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to the late Melvin and Eliza Foster.
Dallas began playing the trumpet in the sixth grade in Crafton, Pennsylvania and it quickly became his first love. After graduating Crafton High School in 1952, he was assigned to the Pittsburgh Nike-Hercules Air Defense System as a Fire Control Warrant Officer from 1959-1971. Relocating to Raleigh in July 1971, he was assigned to the Adjutant General’s Office of the North Carolina Army National Guard. He became the first full time Safety & Occupational Health Manger in 1979 for the National Guard until his retirement in March 1989. He completed his service by retiring from the National Guard as a CW4 in March 1994.
Foster was an active member of St Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Cary, the Knights of Columbus Council 6650, serving as a Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, Membership, and Church Director. In addition he also served on the State Council as a Family and the Retention Chairman. He has been honored by his Council as their Knight of Year, and with his wife Gerry, as Family of the Year. Foster also held office in the 4th Degree Assembly 2546.
He is a member of the Cary American Legion Post 67, performing the role as Bugler for Post ceremonies.
In his retirement, he could be found working part-time at the PNC taking tickets at events on his favorite “Fast West” entrance, where he greeted fans and patrons entering into the events. He also enjoyed delivering the Parent and Cary Living monthly magazines at various establishments in the area.
Dallas played in and co-directed the Little German Band with Dr Jim Hammerle from 1976-1989, forming his Polka Plus Band with Mr. Gene Skibinski in 1991. Foster sought out the polka fans and musicians who, like him, relocated to an area that is not known for polka music. The fan base continued to grow as the band performed at area events, Raleigh’s International Fest, events at various churches, and his most favored event, “Frankie Yankovic Day in Cary,” which began in 1996. Playing the music of America’s Polka King was a dream of Dallas’s since his high school days in western Pennsylvania. At the second annual event (1997), Frankie and Ida Yankovic were able to travel to Raleigh and perform with the band during the Friday night concert and the Saturday night dance. (Mr. Yankovic said “in his 60 plus years of performing world wide, it was the first time he had ever performed in North Carolina”. Yankovic passed away October 1998).
Dallas was predeceased by his eldest son, Dallas, Jr., in January 2019. He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years Gerry (Bradley), daughter Julia Beeman (Larry) of Charlotte; daughter -in-law Frankie of Kinston; sons Mark (Janet) of Raleigh and Michael (Sue) of Willow Springs; grandchildren Heather Singleton (Bo), Bradley Foster (Misty), Milton, Nick and Jessee Foster; Jake and Anna Beeman McNerney (Patrick); Michael (Nicole), Alex , Nicholas, Christopher and Elizabeth Foster; and great grandchildren Dylan and Shane Beebe and Cayden and Nathan Foster
Visitation will be held at Brown Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Thursday, May 16 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, followed by a rosary. A mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Cary on Friday, May 17 at 1:00 PM with interment at Raleigh Memorial immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, The American Cancer Society, or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
