James D Foster

James D. Foster of La Feria, Texas, passed away on February 12, 2023 with his wife and children at his bedside at Harlingen Medical Center. J.D. was born on July 31, 1934 at Trinity Lutheran Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri . He was raised by his mother, Cora M. Foster, and attended Central High School. During his teens and school, he worked at the model airplane shop at 31st and Prospect for (Pop) Harry Schrieber. He joined and served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1955. On a trip to Oklahoma with his Navy buddies, he took a bet to ask out the beautiful blonde working at Dairy Queen, won the bet, and on November 22, 1952, he married that blonde, the love of his life, Laureta Ellen Thompson Foster.

After his military service, J.D. made Kansas City his home and joined the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 2 as an apprentice. When he became a journeyman, he began to teach at the sheet metal trade apprenticeship school. In 1962, he became a business agent and later was elected as business manager in 1966. From 1966 to 1994, J.D. was Business Manager of the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 2 for the majority of his career. He was dedicated to making life better for the union membership and for years served on the apprenticeship committee, was Co-Chairman of the Health and Welfare Fund and served on various boards including NEMI, National Energy Management and the Warm Air Board of Kansas City. J.D. retired in 1994. After retirement, J.D. traveled with his wife throughout the country in their RV. They were winter Texans, and then ultimately made the decision to be permanent Texans in 1998 and moved to La Feria, Texas. Lifelong friends were made through big gatherings and functions and a huge part of his life was devoted to the Rio Grande Valley Shrine Club. Through the Shine Club, he held children’s clinics to assist children get orthopedic medical care that they needed. He regularly transported children to Houston to the Shriners Children’s Hospital until he was unable to make the trips.

J.D. has four children and was very active in their lives at the little league ballfields and boy scout camp raising young sons as Eagle Scouts and was a warrior in the Tribe of Mic-o-say. His daughters were his pride and joy. He traveled the states in his camper and took his children everywhere and later bought a lake house for his family to enjoy boating, fishing, water-skiing and family cookouts. He enjoyed his growing family and loved his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was also active in the masonic lodge becoming a member in 1956. He is a Past Master of the Orient Lodge in Kansas City and Past Master of the Llano Grande Lodge #1173 in Weslaco. He is a charter member of Point Isabel Lodge #33. He placed membership in Tranquility Lodge No. 2000. He was also a member of the Ararat Shriners of Kansas City, the Al Amin Shrine of Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley Shrine Club of La Feria. J.D. was a member of the Scottish Rite of Kansas City and the American Legion No. 439 of La Feria.

J.D. is survived by his wife of 70 years, Laureta Ellen Foster; his son James W. Foster of Kansas City, MO; his son, Tim Foster (wife Lesa) of Lee’s Summit, MO; his daughter Terri Ginavan (husband Tom) of Cypress, TX; his daughter Jana Azpell (husband Michael) of Kansas City, MO; 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Kansas City MO:

Please join us in loving memory of James D. Foster at a celebration of his life at the Sheet Metal Workers SMART Local 2 offices located at 2902 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri on April 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Please gather with the family to honor J.D. and share favorite and lasting memories. The celebration will include honors from the military and the Boy Scouts of America, Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

La Feria Texas:

Please join us in loving memory of James D. Foster at a celebration of his life at the Rio Grande Valley Shrine Club located at 13415 E. Expressway 83 in La Feria, Texas on April 22, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Please gather with Laureta Foster and family to honor J.D. and share some of our favorite and lasting memories. There will be masonic and military honors given.

Any Donations made in J.D. Foster’s honor should be sent to: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 815 Market Street, Galveston, TX 77550, or you can call the hospital directly (Lucy) 409-770-8653 or (Diego) 409-770-6898 where they will accept credit card donations.