Joe was born September 2, 1936, in Houston, Texas to Joseph Foster, Sr. and Carolyn Beatrice Hay Foster. When he was only 10 months old, his mother passed away. At that time, Joe went to live with his Grandparents, Albert and Margaret Foster in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Joe’s grandmother was a godly woman that loved the Lord. This resulted in him trusting Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Joe graduated from Natchitoches High School in 1956 and attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, where he enjoyed being on the college baseball team. In 1959, Joe went to work in the oil industry as a well logging technician in Thibodaux, Louisiana. In 1961, he met Judith (Judy) Arlene Hickey in Laurel, Mississippi. They married on November 15th of that same year and spent 53 precious years together.
Joe and Judy moved to the New Orleans area where he began his career with Magcobar as a drilling fluids engineer. He later became a licensed seaplane pilot and would fly from rig-to-rig running drilling fluid operations. Joe was transferred to the Houston, Texas office in 1982. He was Manager of Technical Training, which was the most rewarding and enjoyable part of his career. He taught schools around the world and helped author training manuals.
Joe spent his life serving the Lord. While living in New Orleans, he and Judy were active members of First Baptist Church of Marrero where he taught Sunday School, was ordained as a deacon and also served in other areas of the church. When they moved to Houston, they became members of North Oaks Baptist Church where Joe continued to serve as a deacon, teach Sunday School and help grow the church. Their final church family was Mims Baptist Church where he loved teaching Sunday School, serving as a deacon and in his final years, after losing his sweet wife, mentoring others in Grief Share classes. During his retirement years, Joe became very involved in the local Gideons camp where he became very passionate about spreading the gospel by providing Bibles and serving as the camp chaplain.
Joe was adored by his family and friends. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, godly advice, wisdom, integrity, and humor. He was a true blessing to everyone that knew him and he will be dearly missed.
Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith (Judy) A. Foster; father, Joseph Foster, Sr.; mother, Carolyn B. Hay Foster; brothers, Larry and Tom Foster; and sister, Carolyn Kibbons. Joe is survived by his son, Joey and his wife Rhonda Foster of Cleveland, Texas; daughter, Cathy and husband Timothy Hurst of Midlothian, Texas; sister, Geneva and brother-in-law Pick Shearburn of St. Louis, Missouri; grandsons, Rueben and wife Jennifer Tamez, Tanner and wife Jordan Hurst, Micah and wife Alexandria Hurst; granddaughters Jade and husband Chad Rosier, Jami and husband Brandon Hughes, and Kassie Avant; great-grandchildren, Khloe Marin, Cameron, Connor, and Joslynn Rosier, Adalynn Johnson, Eliana Foster, Eian Paulk, Cameron Hughes, Tessa and Tatum Tamez, and Aniston Hurst and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. at Cashner Funeral Home in Conroe, Texas. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 11:00 am at Mims Baptist Church with burial to follow in Garden Park Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his honor to the Mims Baptist Church Light Shine Fund, 1609 Porter Rd. Conroe, TX 77301 or Gideon’s International Organization, P.O. Box 97251 Washington, DC 20090-7251.
