Paul C. Foster

Paul C. Foster, 94, of Topeka passed away on September 18, 2018.

He was born on January 23, 1924 in Topeka, KS the son of Charles W. and Mary E. Foster.

Paul lived in Topeka for most of his life. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1942. He married Barbara Bartels on June 7, 1942 in Oskaloosa, KS. She preceded him in death on January 3, 2004.

He served in the US Army during WWII in the 96th infantry division in the Pacific Theater participating in the invasions of Leyte in 1944 and Okinawa in 1945.

Following his service, he returned to Topeka in 1945 and became an apprentice carpenter working his way to a tradesman carpenter. As a carpenter he began working for Rinner Construction Company where he worked, eventually retiring as Superintendent in 1985. He was always proud of the buildings he helped build in Topeka including Penwell-Gabel on SW 10th.

He was a member of the Topeka Evening Sertoma Club for many years serving the Topeka community.

He and Barbara enjoyed Camping and RVing. It started with family and friends going to state lakes/parks for weekend outings in the 50's sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, but outings kept expanding until Paul and Barbara bought a small motor home. Later they bought a 38 foot motor home that they lived in while spending winters in South Texas or Florida. Following Paul's retirement they took their RV on road trips with their grandkids in the summer months.

Paul loved golf. In high school he learned to play golf while caddying at Shawnee Country Club. As an adult he played the White Lakes golf course weekly as well as other public courses. He was a founding member of the Cedar Crest Country Club which is now, Western Hills Golf Course, where he shot his first hole in one. Paul and Barbara played golf daily as snow birds in Texas and in Florida, where she made a hole in one as well.

Following Barbara's death Paul married Charlene Honeyman and moved to Longmont, Colorado. Charlene and Paul enjoyed life and traveled a lot including an ocean cruise, a river cruise, an overnight train trip to California and their favorite two places to visit Estes Park and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. In 2013 they returned to Topeka and lived in Assisted Living Facilities. Charlene preceded him in death on August 30, 2016.

Paul was also preceded in death by seven siblings, Ruth Horton, Carolyn Streeter, Zelma Dean, Luella Thornton, Bertha Leep, Nobel Foster, and Francis Foster.

He is survived by a son, Mike Foster and wife Pam, of Round Rock, TX; grandchildren, Sally Schmidt, Abbie Kinney and Theo Foster; great-grandchildren, Max and Ella Kinney.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in the Abby Chapel at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to service time. A reception will be held immediately following the entombment.

Memorial contributions may be made to Great Lakes Caring 3715 SW 29th Street STE 100 Topeka, KS 66614, Topeka Presbyterian Manor 4712 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, KS 66606.

Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is handling arrangements. To leave a message for the family, please visit the guestbook below.