Pomerene Arles "P.A." Foster, 95, passed from his life Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Willow Park, Texas. Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 12, at Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood.
Pom was born Jan. 31, 1922, in Wadsworth, Ohio. He had a difficult childhood due to his mother's death in car wreck when he was only 8 years old. He and his two siblings spent time in foster homes, and, once he turned 18, he became his younger brother's guardian. These experiences shaped him and made him mature beyond his years, and also motivated his love for a happy, stable family.
Pom enlisted in the Navy, and that is where he met his sweetheart, Navy Wave Myrtle Tipton. Their first date was a double date - the only problem was that he was the date of the other girl! After that, Foster and Tip only had eyes for each other. Eventually, they settled in Fort Worth where P.A. began working for Consolidated Vultee. In mid-life, he made the decision to go to college, and graduated from Texas Christian University. His career spanned 33 years at "The Bomber Plant," and he retired from his position as quality control manager at General Dynamics in 1983.
P.A. had some hobbies (especially building and flying remote-controlled airplanes), and was a well-known volunteer in the Castleberry School District. The Band Boosters relied on him often, and he enjoyed his trips to Hawaii and Mexico as a chaperone. He loved to travel, and family road trips were at least a yearly occurrence. After retiring, the trips became a bit more adventurous, as the two of them traveled to Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Alaska, Turkey, and Taiwan.
P.A. and Tippy were charter members at West Side Church of Christ, and P.A. held the office of elder for over 40 years, well into his 90s. His gentle Christian spirit and calm demeanor were gifts that were well-employed in his service to the congregation. He loved his church family, and they him. After moving to Weatherford last year to be nearer his daughter Jean, he and Tippy began attending Weatherford Church of Christ and were blessed by the friendships there.
The family is also very grateful for the care and loving attention both P.A. and Tippy have received at Martin Crest Assisted Living, and more recently, Clear Fork Assisted Living. With the help of the dedicated staff, he was able to spend his final days with his darling Tip by his side.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucile; father, Arles; sister, Virginia; brother, Robert; and son, Michael. Survived by his love of 71 years, Tippy; his daughters, Jean Paulsel and her husband, Roger, and Susan Grayson and her husband, Marshall; grandchildren, Clay Anderson, Amy (Michael) Murrell, Kate (Jason) Landon, Kahley Paulsel, Skye (Kristi) Grayson, Kevin (Tyana) Grayson, Jonathan (Kristen) Foster, Laura Foster, Brian Foster; and nine (soon to be 10) great-grandchildren, Travis, Addi, Faith, Holden, Cole, Levi, Lucas, Taylor, Micah, and Sadie.
