Foster Parsell

Foster Parsell, widely known throughout the DFW Metroplex in civic, political and aviation circles died Tuesday, August 4. Services will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 10th and Lamar in Fort Worth on Tuesday, August 11 at 10:00am followed by graveside service at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Visitation is on Monday, August 10 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville.

Foster lived a long and happy life and enlivened and enhanced those whose lives he touched. His instant smile, ready sense of humor and ability to discuss eloquently any subject made him successful at any endeavor he chose. He served several terms on the Hurst City Council and as President of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. He was recognized wherever he went from the students he trained to the crew members he flew with in his 43 year career with American Airlines, which began at the age of 19. His voice was easily recognized by other crew members on the radio, and on the tapes he made of the sermons at St. Andrew’s for WRR Radio.

He trained crews for corporations, other airlines, and experimental projects like training NASA Pilots to carry the Space Shuttle on the back of a 747 in the early days of the Shuttle program. After his retirement, Foster was among the first volunteers with the C. R. Smith Museum, where he loved to give tours and and share his passion for aviation and American Airlines’ history. He helped pioneer many early programs for American, from "Test Hops" of repaired damaged airplanes to the original Pilot training programs, and flew the Inaugral flight to London in 1982 before Inertial Navigation Systems were used. There was a naval ship positioned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean they radioed to be sure they were on course.

He had many interesting experiences in his career, but one he enjoyed the most was the campaign flights with General Dwight Eisenhower, when he toured the country on his bid for the Presidency, because he would come up to the cockpit and talk. He also flew the inaugral trip of the first Boeing 707 Jet into Love Field in 1959 with several celebrities aboard. Mr. Stanley Marcus was the only surviving member of that group at the reenactment of the flight in 1999.

John Foster Parsell was born in Washington, D.C. on May 11, 1923 to John Elmer and Tempa Kenton Parsell. His father, a Major, became a government official appointed as the first Finance Officer of the newly formed FHA. He also worked on the Manhattan Project, but as all who did, was not aware of what it was until after the explosion of the first atomic bomb. His mother was a descendant of Simon Kenton, a formidable frontiersman of the Daniel Boone era.

Foster is survived by his wife Betty, his children, Karen Parsell, Diana Rowden and husband Bruce, and Mark Parsell; grandsons, Colten, Weston and Keaton Parsell and great-grandchildren, Trinity and Jonah; and Betty's family who admired and loved him, Bill Stimmel and wife Terri and his sons, Ryan and Russell Stimmel, Bryan and wife Annette, Grady and wife Paula and their son Jake. He is also survived by sister-in-law Doris Parsell, niece and nephews, Donna, Bruce and Keith, many cousins and a host of friends and associates. Foster was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth, his parents and his brother Dave.

Foster was a remarkable man of great integrity and enormous personal charm. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Arrangements under the direction of Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, Colleyville, Texas.