Les Foust of Vancouver, WA, passed away on Dec. 29, 2011 at his home surrounded by his loving family and his dog, Taffy, who never left his side.
He was born in Dixon, IN to Allen and Zela Foust, the youngest of eight children who have all preceded him in death.
At the age of 16, Les lied about his age and joined the Merchant marines. He served in World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam War. During WW II, Les had his ship shot out from under him by a Japanese submarine in the South Pacific. He spent 30 days in a life raft and only three out of thirty survived. Les had the opportunity to travel the world.
He married his wife, Joyce on July 30, 1960. When they had their second child, Les retired from the Merchant Marines.
Les then worked at the shipyards and the Army Corps of Engineers and was a proud member of the Marine Fireman's Union. Les later went to work for Lucky Lager Brewery until they closed. He then went back to the Army Corps for a year before joining Legacy Health Systems Corporate Headquarters as their Maintenance Engineer until he retired from there at the age of 76.
Les was known to help anyone in need of fixing something and never expected anything in return.
He was a very giving father who made his children hot breakfasts every day before school. He was the dad who was always present and took immense joy in his children, and later his grandchildren. He was known as "Papa Les" to many.
Les lived a life of great courage and lived fearlessly. He survived a heart attack and two strokes in the last three years of his life. He fought through his recovery each time. Ultimately, to everyone's surprise, he was told he had Pancreatic Cancer. Les only survived a few days after his diagnosis. He passed away with courage and grace.
Les is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce; children, Patty Iwamoto (Eric) and Richard; and grandchildren, Toshi and Max Iwamoto.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Northside Baptist Church, 5201 Northeast Minnehaha St., Vancouver, WA, on Sat., Jan. 21st at 1:30 p.m.
Please sign Les' guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
Published in The Columbian on January 15, 2012
He was born in Dixon, IN to Allen and Zela Foust, the youngest of eight children who have all preceded him in death.
At the age of 16, Les lied about his age and joined the Merchant marines. He served in World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam War. During WW II, Les had his ship shot out from under him by a Japanese submarine in the South Pacific. He spent 30 days in a life raft and only three out of thirty survived. Les had the opportunity to travel the world.
He married his wife, Joyce on July 30, 1960. When they had their second child, Les retired from the Merchant Marines.
Les then worked at the shipyards and the Army Corps of Engineers and was a proud member of the Marine Fireman's Union. Les later went to work for Lucky Lager Brewery until they closed. He then went back to the Army Corps for a year before joining Legacy Health Systems Corporate Headquarters as their Maintenance Engineer until he retired from there at the age of 76.
Les was known to help anyone in need of fixing something and never expected anything in return.
He was a very giving father who made his children hot breakfasts every day before school. He was the dad who was always present and took immense joy in his children, and later his grandchildren. He was known as "Papa Les" to many.
Les lived a life of great courage and lived fearlessly. He survived a heart attack and two strokes in the last three years of his life. He fought through his recovery each time. Ultimately, to everyone's surprise, he was told he had Pancreatic Cancer. Les only survived a few days after his diagnosis. He passed away with courage and grace.
Les is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce; children, Patty Iwamoto (Eric) and Richard; and grandchildren, Toshi and Max Iwamoto.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Northside Baptist Church, 5201 Northeast Minnehaha St., Vancouver, WA, on Sat., Jan. 21st at 1:30 p.m.
Please sign Les' guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
Published in The Columbian on January 15, 2012
Les Foust of Vancouver, WA, passed away on Dec. 29, 2011 at his home surrounded by his loving family and his dog, Taffy, who never left his side.
He was born in Dixon, IN to Allen and Zela Foust, the youngest of eight children who have all preceded him in death.
At the age of 16, Les lied about his age and joined the Merchant marines. He served in World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam War. During WW II, Les had his ship shot out from under him by a Japanese submarine in the South Pacific. He spent 30 days in a life raft and only three out of thirty survived. Les had the opportunity to travel the world.
He married his wife, Joyce on July 30, 1960. When they had their second child, Les retired from the Merchant Marines.
Les then worked at the shipyards and the Army Corps of Engineers and was a proud member of the Marine Fireman's Union. Les later went to work for Lucky Lager Brewery until they closed. He then went back to the Army Corps for a year before joining Legacy Health Systems Corporate Headquarters as their Maintenance Engineer until he retired from there at the age of 76.
Les was known to help anyone in need of fixing something and never expected anything in return.
He was a very giving father who made his children hot breakfasts every day before school. He was the dad who was always present and took immense joy in his children, and later his grandchildren. He was known as "Papa Les" to many.
Les lived a life of great courage and lived fearlessly. He survived a heart attack and two strokes in the last three years of his life. He fought through his recovery each time. Ultimately, to everyone's surprise, he was told he had Pancreatic Cancer. Les only survived a few days after his diagnosis. He passed away with courage and grace.
Les is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce; children, Patty Iwamoto (Eric) and Richard; and grandchildren, Toshi and Max Iwamoto.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Northside Baptist Church, 5201 Northeast Minnehaha St., Vancouver, WA, on Sat., Jan. 21st at 1:30 p.m.
Please sign Les' guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
Published in The Columbian on January 15, 2012
He was born in Dixon, IN to Allen and Zela Foust, the youngest of eight children who have all preceded him in death.
At the age of 16, Les lied about his age and joined the Merchant marines. He served in World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam War. During WW II, Les had his ship shot out from under him by a Japanese submarine in the South Pacific. He spent 30 days in a life raft and only three out of thirty survived. Les had the opportunity to travel the world.
He married his wife, Joyce on July 30, 1960. When they had their second child, Les retired from the Merchant Marines.
Les then worked at the shipyards and the Army Corps of Engineers and was a proud member of the Marine Fireman's Union. Les later went to work for Lucky Lager Brewery until they closed. He then went back to the Army Corps for a year before joining Legacy Health Systems Corporate Headquarters as their Maintenance Engineer until he retired from there at the age of 76.
Les was known to help anyone in need of fixing something and never expected anything in return.
He was a very giving father who made his children hot breakfasts every day before school. He was the dad who was always present and took immense joy in his children, and later his grandchildren. He was known as "Papa Les" to many.
Les lived a life of great courage and lived fearlessly. He survived a heart attack and two strokes in the last three years of his life. He fought through his recovery each time. Ultimately, to everyone's surprise, he was told he had Pancreatic Cancer. Les only survived a few days after his diagnosis. He passed away with courage and grace.
Les is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce; children, Patty Iwamoto (Eric) and Richard; and grandchildren, Toshi and Max Iwamoto.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Northside Baptist Church, 5201 Northeast Minnehaha St., Vancouver, WA, on Sat., Jan. 21st at 1:30 p.m.
Please sign Les' guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
Published in The Columbian on January 15, 2012
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
