Julius Foster

Julius Foster III was born December 14, 1920 in Princeton NJ and went to his heavenly father at Deane Hill Place on February 17, 2018. He died from complications of dementia and a series of small strokes. He graduated from Princeton High School, NJ in 1938 and Princeton University in 1942, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. During WWII Julius worked on the design, construction, and training of operators for a TNT plant in Williamsport, PA. He then worked on the design of a penicillin plant near Princeton, NJ.

Julius’ contribution to his country continued when he supported the Manhattan Project in NY and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In Tennessee he helped develop technologies for the gaseous diffusion process and was heavily involved in construction and operation of the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant until he retired. He also served in the army. After his retirement in 1984, with over 40 years of service, he returned to the K-25 site as a subcontractor and supported ongoing projects needing historical knowledge of the plant and its many years of operation.

Julius was preceded in death by his mother Helen Foster, father Walter Brooks Foster, brother Walt Brooks Foster Jr. , as well as his son Scott Foster. He is survived by Catherine his wife of 75 years, his sister Janice Gibson, his son Thomas Foster, and daughters Leslie Foster Brock and Frances Foster; grandchildren Wendy Foster and Christopher O’Brien, MD and his fiancé Lan Nguyen; and daughter-in-law Jackie Foster, and son-in-law Bill Brock.

Julius was a man of many talents, fixing whatever needed fixing from car maintenance, plumbing, electrical, excavation, and masonry. There are many, many examples of his work. His belief, like many Oak Ridgers was always, “if it needs fixing, fix it yourself.”

He leaves behind many family members and friends that will miss him and his lack of tolerance for anything he considered stupid. He also had a passion for wood and working with wood.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, February 23, 2018 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 6900 Kingston Pike, Knoxville with The Reverend Larry Richardson presiding. Receiving of friends and fellowship will follow the service. The family will meet at Highland Memorial Cemetery for the interment at 3:00.

Friends and family may leave their condolences at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Messiah Luthern Church in Julius’ name.