Charles Kenneth Foster

Charles Kenneth Foster died peacefully at home on April 2, 2005. Born on a farm in Sipe Springs, TX, on Nov. 24, 1920, he was the youngest of Walter F. and Clara Morris Foster's seven children. After graduating high school in 1936, Mr. Foster left home and lived with his grandparents in nearby Comanche, TX, working in his uncle's drug store. In 1938, he moved to California, to live and work with two of his brothers, Milo and Morris Foster. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942, serving first as a Radio Technician and later being commissioned in Civil Engineer Corps, Construction Battalion duty through May of 1946. Following World War II, Mr. Foster came to the University of Texas, earning his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1949, then began a distinguished career of more than 35 years in public health, his primary employer being the Texas Dept. of Health in Austin. Among his career accomplishments, he served as chief engineer, Water Supply Program; assistant director, Environmental Health Service; director, Division of Sanitary Engineering; director, Environmental Engineering, director, Water Hygiene; and chief, Bureau of Environmental Health. He served as chairman of the Southwest Section of the American Water Works Association, receiving their George Warren Fuller Award in 1981. A lifetime member of the Texas Water Utilities Association, serving as secretary-treasurer for several years, he was named recipient of TWUA's Ballard Distinguished Service Award in 2001. Mr. Foster was also a very active member of St. John's United Methodist church until physical disability limited his capabilities in 1999. He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Catherine Clark Foster; son, Tom, and his wife, Margo Foster; daughters Mary and Betty Ann Foster, and their husbands, Harold Bay, Jr. and Thomas B. Greenwood; and son William K., and his wife, Mary Foster; grandchildren Dylan Foster, Briana and Miles Foster-Greenwood, and Owen and Catherine M. Foster; also two sisters, Dorothy F. Robertson, and Ruby F. Wyatt, both of Comanche, TX; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews; and countless friends, especially David Cochran. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church of Austin, or in memory of C.K. Foster to the Vic M. Ehlers Scholarship Foundation, 1106 Clayton Lane, Austin, TX 78723. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., April 4, Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar. Graveside service will be 1:00 p.m., April 5, 2005, Austin Memorial Park on Hancock Dr., followed at 2:00 p.m. by a service celebrating Charles K. Foster's life at St. John's United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale Rd. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com