William O. Foss

William O. Foss 96, died May 18 peacefully at home, surrounded by family. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1918 to the late Hans Foss and Alma Foss (nee Sandstrom). Dulcie E. Foss (nee Daffer), his wife of 50 years, preceded him in death in 1991. Immediate survivors include his wife Wilma Fehrs-Foss (nee Schmidt) of Virginia Beach, stepdaughter Linda C. Fehrs of New Windsor, New York, sister Beverly Butterworth of East Moline, Illinois, as well as nieces Nina Ferreri, East Moline, Illinois, Karen Van Treck, Gurnee, Illinois, nephew Steven Butterworth, Boise, Idaho and second cousin Oddbjørn Fosshaug of Heggedal, Norway. Although Mr. Foss was born in Boston, Mass., he was raised by loving paternal grandparents Otto and Hilda Fosshaug in Hyggen, Norway until the age of 14, at which time he returned to the United States to live with his father and stepmother. He has been a resident of Virginia Beach since 1976. Mr. Foss was the author of 12 published nonfiction books. Four of his books dealt with Virginia subjects, including a major work “The United States Navy in Hampton Road,” which was published in 1984 by the Donning Company of Norfolk, Va. He also wrote “It Happened in Virginia” and “The Norwegian Lady and the Wreck of the Dictator.” The latter book describes the 1891 shipwreck off Virginia Beach that led to the erection of the Norwegian Lady statue at the oceanfront. The statue, a gift from the citizens of Moss, Norway, homeport of the Dictator, cemented relations between Moss and Norway. During World War II, Mr. Foss served in the United States Navy. He was a crew member of the Destroyers USS Jacob Jones (DD130), USS Herbert (DD160), and USS Foote (DD511). He participated in naval action in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He was aboard the USS Foote when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and eleven of the crew were lost. When World War II ended, the USS Foote raised anchor on September 10, 1945 for the last time in foreign waters. With homeward bound pennants flying, the Foote, along with 56 other ships of the Pacific Fleet sailed into New York harbor and the Victory parade. On October 7, 1945, the crew of the Foote was among the hundreds of American servicemen who paraded up Broadway, being reviewed by a beaming President Harry Truman. Mr. Foss served for ten years in the United States Navy and for this service he was awarded the Purple Heart, as well as the Good Conduct, American Defense Service, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign/ European/African-Middle-Eastern Campaign, World War II Victory and Navy Occupation Service medals. Returning to civilian life after the war, Mr. Foss worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. He then worked as an associate editor of the weekly Naval Times in Washington, D.C. Later he became a writer with the U.S Department of Commerce where he wrote speeches and articles on international trade. That was followed by an assignment as a public information specialist at Army ROTC Directorate, Fort Monroe, Va., from whence he retired in 1973. Mr. Foss was a member of the Author’s League, and the Hampton Roads Lodge No. 522 of the Sons of Norway. In 2008 he was given the prestigious Leif Erikson Award by the organization which acknowledges someone who raises awareness of Norway’s life and culture. A private, graveside service will be conducted at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens by Pastor Richard Keever. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to favorite charities.