LEWIS, Foster F.

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, April 27, 2003 Foster F. Lewis, 83, of Surprise, AZ passed away on April 20, 2003. Mr. Lewis served with the US Naval Service Coast Guard during WWII. Services will be held on Saturday, May 10th, 10:00 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 13601 Aleppo Dr., Sun City West. Arrangements are by Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel. Courtesy of Pat Wilson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Foster F. Lewis, formerly of Bellevue, Washington and a resident of Surprise, Arizona since 1994, passed away suddenly on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2003. Beloved husband of 62 years of Betty R. Lewis. He was born on May 28, 1919 in Los Angeles, CA. He was also deeply loved by his children, Karen Gardiner (Michael) of Los Angeles and Cindy Jackson (Ted) of Phoenix, AZ and by his three granddaughters, Dr. Kristen Gardiner Barry, Lauren Gardiner, and Kelly Jackson. Foster was a vibrant, extremely active man with a great love of life. His interests ranged from performing in ice skating shows to water skiing with his family in their small boat in the 1960's and 1970's to his recent participation for many years in the Sun Village Tennis Club and performing in a series of variety shows at the Sun Village Clubhouse as recently as last February. He loved Broadway shows and music and often talked about his days as a child extra in the "Our Gang" comedy movies in the early 1930's. A true athlete to the end, he had qualified for the 1940 Olympic Games in Track and Field which were cancelled due to the onset of World War II. A World War II veteran, he served three years in the U.S. Navy-Coast Guard Air Sea Rescue Crew. He loved his country and was a true patriot. Very much the humanitarian, Foster gave much of his time to community service. Active for 33 years as a member of the Bellevue Lions Club, where he served as President and Zone Chairman, he also was a member of the PBM Mariners Association, the PBY International Association, the U.S. Navy League, and the Wooden Boats Club in Seattle on Lake Union. In the last 20 years Foster was very devoted to the Association of Naval Aviation and served as Vice President of the Northwest Region of ANA in Seattle and after moving to Phoenix was appointed Vice President of the Southwest Region. He was a member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sun City West, serving as deacon for a period of time. An avid reader, history buff and traveler, he and Betty traveled over most of the world many times visiting their children who lived in foreign lands. Foster was a mortgage banker for 30 years in Seattle and Bellevue. Survivors also include his sister, Barbara Fife and her husband Jack of Reseda, CA and brother, Kenneth Lewis of Tarzana, CA, brothers-in-law Richard Caldwell of California, and Jac Caldwell of Michigan and their families, and numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many devoted friends. He will be deeply missed by all. A memorial service is to be held on Saturday, May 10 at 10:00a.m. at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 13601 Aleppo Drive, Sun City West followed by a military service at Resthaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances are suggested in his name to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, P.O. Box 33104, NAS Pensacola, FL 32508. Published in the Arizona Republic on 5/4/2003.