Paul W Foster

Paul W. Foster of University Park was born on May 6, 1914 in Watertown, CT to Edna Locke Foster and Frederick W. Foster. He passed away peacefully surrounded by friends and listening to his favorite Big Band music at his home on February 13, 2010 at the age of 95.

He prepared for college at The Taft School in Watertown, CT and graduated from Middlebury College, VT with a BS degree in Geology in 1937. At Middlebury College he met his future wife, Audrey Virginia Dimm. They were married in 1939 and moved to Norman, OK where he received an MS degree in Geology in 1940. He began his oil career with Atlantic Refining in 1940 and later joined Barnsdell Oil in Houston, TX. In 1946 he accepted a position teaching Petroleum Geology at Williams College in Williamstown, MA, returning to Atlantic Refining in 1948 in Lake Charles, LA. He was transferred by Atlantic to Dallas in 1951 where he held various geological positions. In 1964 he was transferred to their Denver office, returning to Dallas in 1966 where he published A History of Subsurface Geology of Dallas County. In 1970 he left Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) to become a Geological Consultant, mapping wells in the Southwest until his retirement at age 88.

He was a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church and was an Emeritus member of the Dallas Petroleum Club. He was a Life Member of the Dallas Geological Society, serving as President, and, in 1979 was a member of the George L. Cross Century Council in honor of those who made outstanding contributions to the University of Oklahoma. Other professional memberships included the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES) and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).

His greatest passion was for his Big Band music, of which he had an entire library collection of songs on various forms of media. In his retirement he was a devoted weekly volunteer of the University Park Public Library and was named Volunteer of the Year, 2004-2005.

He loved his daily luncheon outings and could be spotted most days in Snider Plaza, NorthPark or El Fenix with his devoted caregiver-"Susi" Asucena Torres and his luncheon buddies and best friends Alanna Strong, Marla Box, Laura Plumettaz, Ellen Holt, Dianne Greene and Michelle Irby. He was also indebted to his nightime caregivers-Olivia Roldan, Ana Bravo and Henry Arnett, as well as Dr. Mitch Carroll and Randy Flink.

Predeceased by his parents and wife, he is survived by his children, Jeffrey Paul Foster, D.D.S (Susan) of Austin, Texas and Virginia Ann Elkins (Rodger) of Tuscon, Arizona; his grandchildren Gregory Woodward Foster (Yolanda), Christopher James Foster (Holly), Grant Jeffrey Foster, Brett Thomas Jennings, Charles Blake Elkins and Christopher Barrett Elkins; his great-grandchildren Audrey Bailey Foster, Landon Alonzo Foster, Noah Foster, Grace Foster and Avery Foster.

There will be a memorial service in celebration of Paul in Dallas at a future time, to be determined. He will be buried alongside the love of his life, Audrey, who passed away in 1993, in Evergreen Cemetery, Watertown, CT at a private family ceremony, also to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Taft School, 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, Connecticut 06795-2100