Obituary of John Dickenson Foster II

Husband, father, brother and friend, John D. Foster II died at home on December 27, 2005 after a short but valiant battle with cancer. As John would say, "This wasn't my idea."Raised in southern California, John spent his last 10 years as a happy resident of Olympia, where he is survived by his wife, Val; son John; sisters Sally and Maggie; and step-daughter, Tammy, who attended a family burial service at Masonic Memorial Park on December 29, 2005. John held a Master’s degree in English Literature, and was a freelance writer for a number of years. His latest work, "Toppling in Murmansk" was unfinished at the time of his passing. Like all good works, it had autobiographical elements, including reference to his being a veteran of the United States Army, in which he served in Germany in the late 1960’s. An avid reader, music lover, and history buff, John loved the life of the mind, which he shared with his wife, Val. Together they enjoyed books and the appreciation of literature. He also loved a lively discussion or debate on any topic of interest. Among his friends, he cherished those who disagreed as much as, if not more, than those who agreed with him. Good friends included Wayne and Harriet, in Olympia, and his life-long Army buddy, Shane, from California. As an amateur musician and spontaneous wit, John delighted family and friends with his own musical compositions and his commentary on any given subject, any given time. John will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, including his dog Leda.