Larry Michael Foster

Larry Michael Foster died in Williamsburg, VA on Thursday, October 30, 2025. He was born on April 17, 1951 on a dairy farm in Hot Springs, North Carolina. At 14 he moved with his family to Halifax, VA. There he met Lee, who became the love of his life. Their first date was to the prom in 1968, beginning a relationship that spanned 57 years, happily married for 48.

A graduate of Appalachian State University, he began his career in public service as the assistant city manager of South Boston VA, which led to positions as town manager of Halifax, VA and city manager of Buena Vista, VA. In 1988 he began a 26-year career with James City County, first as the assistant county administrator and then as general manager of the James City Service Authority which he led for 24 years.

Larry exemplified his love of community through his extensive volunteer work, serving on numerous boards including the Williamsburg United Way, Salvation Army, Williamsburg Landing, WATA, and Village Bank. After retiring in 2013, he expanded his service to include the House of Mercy, First Tee, volunteering as a tax preparer, and helping maintain the gardens at Hospice House. In recent years he has served as a project manager, overseeing the construction of the new campus of Child Development Resources. He was a dedicated member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and elder, and assisted with the homeless shelter program.

Larry couldn’t go anywhere, in Williamsburg or far beyond, without running into a friend. He knew no strangers and always had a warm, welcoming smile. Larry was a master gardener, longtime member of Toastmasters, religious attendee of William & Mary football and basketball, music lover, and world traveler. He loved golf, a clean car, riding in his BMW with the top down, and enjoying a cold beer, especially with friends. These passions were rooted in his love of friends and evidence of his joyful way of living. He believed in hard work, telling the truth, love through service, and that “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Most of all he deeply loved his family and we were blessed that he expressed it so freely and fully. His big smile, contagious laugh, and big hugs will be missed by everyone who crossed his path.

He is survived by his wife Lee Johnston Foster; his daughter Anne Lee; his son Johnston and his wife, Amie; and his beloved grandsons, Wolfgang, Dutch, and Viggo. Also mourning Larry are his siblings Jerry, Vergil, Sharon, Karen, Sarah, Logan, and their families, many nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends he embraced over a lifetime. He is predeceased by his parents, Francis Silvers Foster and Homer M. Foster.

In celebration of Larry’s life, there will be a service at 1pm on Friday, November 7 at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception at the church. The service will also be livestreamed at mywpc.org. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to honor Larry’s life to The Arc of Greater Williamsburg.