Foster R. Howard, BTCS USN (ret)

Foster Raymond Howard was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Foster always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Foster was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Foster was born on June 2, 1954 at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento, California. His parents were Allen and Mildred. Foster was raised in Santa Cruz, California. Always able to express himself well, Foster possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Foster was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Foster was able to relate well with others. Foster was raised with four siblings. He had one older sister, Cookie, one older brother Bill, one younger brother Charley and one younger sister, Tammy. Foster had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

On February 3, 1975 Foster exchanged wedding vows with Nancy Ballena Alday in the Philippines. Foster was attentive to Nancy's feelings, and he charmed Nancy and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Foster was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Foster identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Foster was blessed with two children, one daughter, Misha and one son, Harmon. They were also blessed with eight grandchildren, Teiliana, Napua, Makana, Ciana, Aaron, Braddah, Titus, Ikaika.

Foster was a retired US Navy Veteran. Foster was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was stationed in Hawaii and Japan. He achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He received several awards including the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Navy Expedionary and many more awards. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Foster enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were camping, fishing and bowling. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Foster was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Recreational sports included fishing, bowling and golfing. Foster was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was golf.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Foster truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included the Philippines.

Foster was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Foster’s favorites was Koa, a schnauzer. They were best friends for thirteen years. His family was rounded out by his two dogs, Lucky and Kuu.

When Foster’s retirement finally came in 1996, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. In retirement, he found new pleasure in gambling, namely cards and Pai Gow.

Foster passed away on May 26, 2018 at home in Las Vegas. Foster fought and suffered cancer and heart failure. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, children, Misha Pelekai, Harmon Howard, grandchildren Teiliana, Napua, Kana, Ciana, Aaron, Braddah, Titus and Ikaika, his brother Charley and sister Tammy. Services were held at Palm Southwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, Nevada. Foster was laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.

Foster was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Foster had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Foster Raymond Howard.