Paul James Foster was born near Mesa, Colorado, on the family farm August 29, 1918, to Anna G. and Willard C. Foster. He died February 1, 2021, at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. He was 102 years old.
Paul grew up in Mesa with his two sisters, Evelyn (McNew) and Vera (Pearce). He graduated Mesa High School in 1936, and attended Grand Junction Junior College (Colorado Mesa University) from 1936 to 1938. Paul attended Colorado A and M (now CSU) in Ft. Collins from 1938 to 1941.
In September 1938, he joined the National Guard 168th Field Artillery and had guard duty every summer. In February 1941, his unit was called up for active duty in WWII. He attended Officer Candidate School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma from August to November, 1942. He served in the European and the Pacific Theaters. He was a Major in Field Artillery when he completed his Army service in March 1946.
Paul met his wife, Joy Johnson, of Molina, Colorado, when he was home on furlough from the Army. She worked in the Collbran Hospital and Paul met her while visiting a cousin in recovery there. They began writing to each other after he went back to the Army. They were engaged in 1943, and married on June 30, 1945, at the Collbran Congregational Church. They were married 72 years until her death in 2017.
After the war was over, Paul and Joy went to Ft. Collins to finish his college education. He graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in vocational agriculture. Paul taught vocational agriculture at Rifle Union High School. In 1956, he joined the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. He earned his master's degree in education from CSU in 1960. While living in Rifle, Paul and Joy had three sons.
For his job, Paul traveled around Western Colorado, but they continued to enjoy living in the small town of Rifle. In 1963, the family moved to the Denver area so Paul could spend more time in the state office. He was Western Region Planner for the Division of Occupational Education when he retired in 1982.
After retirement, Paul went into business as a "House Mechanic," doing carpentry, general repairs, remodeling and furniture repair. He spent hours helping his sons with remodeling and building. He was active in the men's group at Grace United Methodist Church.
Pappy enjoyed camping and hunting elk at Peltier Lake on the South Fork of the White River. He hunted there for 50 seasons with family, friends and his favorite mules, Maggie and Jessie.
Paul and Joy traveled extensively, especially throughout the Southwest, to visit petroglyph sites with the American Rock Art Research Association and the Colorado Rock Art Association. Joy sold many paintings through her years at the Georgetown Gallery, and Paul supported her efforts with his framing expertise. They lived in Centennial for 47 years until they moved to Grand Junction in 2010.
Survived by his sister, his sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a great number of friends and shirt-tail relatives.
Paul grew up in Mesa with his two sisters, Evelyn (McNew) and Vera (Pearce). He graduated Mesa High School in 1936, and attended Grand Junction Junior College (Colorado Mesa University) from 1936 to 1938. Paul attended Colorado A and M (now CSU) in Ft. Collins from 1938 to 1941.
In September 1938, he joined the National Guard 168th Field Artillery and had guard duty every summer. In February 1941, his unit was called up for active duty in WWII. He attended Officer Candidate School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma from August to November, 1942. He served in the European and the Pacific Theaters. He was a Major in Field Artillery when he completed his Army service in March 1946.
Paul met his wife, Joy Johnson, of Molina, Colorado, when he was home on furlough from the Army. She worked in the Collbran Hospital and Paul met her while visiting a cousin in recovery there. They began writing to each other after he went back to the Army. They were engaged in 1943, and married on June 30, 1945, at the Collbran Congregational Church. They were married 72 years until her death in 2017.
After the war was over, Paul and Joy went to Ft. Collins to finish his college education. He graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in vocational agriculture. Paul taught vocational agriculture at Rifle Union High School. In 1956, he joined the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. He earned his master's degree in education from CSU in 1960. While living in Rifle, Paul and Joy had three sons.
For his job, Paul traveled around Western Colorado, but they continued to enjoy living in the small town of Rifle. In 1963, the family moved to the Denver area so Paul could spend more time in the state office. He was Western Region Planner for the Division of Occupational Education when he retired in 1982.
After retirement, Paul went into business as a "House Mechanic," doing carpentry, general repairs, remodeling and furniture repair. He spent hours helping his sons with remodeling and building. He was active in the men's group at Grace United Methodist Church.
Pappy enjoyed camping and hunting elk at Peltier Lake on the South Fork of the White River. He hunted there for 50 seasons with family, friends and his favorite mules, Maggie and Jessie.
Paul and Joy traveled extensively, especially throughout the Southwest, to visit petroglyph sites with the American Rock Art Research Association and the Colorado Rock Art Association. Joy sold many paintings through her years at the Georgetown Gallery, and Paul supported her efforts with his framing expertise. They lived in Centennial for 47 years until they moved to Grand Junction in 2010.
Survived by his sister, his sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a great number of friends and shirt-tail relatives.
Paul James Foster was born near Mesa, Colorado, on the family farm August 29, 1918, to Anna G. and Willard C. Foster. He died February 1, 2021, at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. He was 102 years old.
Paul grew up in Mesa with his two sisters, Evelyn (McNew) and Vera (Pearce). He graduated Mesa High School in 1936, and attended Grand Junction Junior College (Colorado Mesa University) from 1936 to 1938. Paul attended Colorado A and M (now CSU) in Ft. Collins from 1938 to 1941.
In September 1938, he joined the National Guard 168th Field Artillery and had guard duty every summer. In February 1941, his unit was called up for active duty in WWII. He attended Officer Candidate School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma from August to November, 1942. He served in the European and the Pacific Theaters. He was a Major in Field Artillery when he completed his Army service in March 1946.
Paul met his wife, Joy Johnson, of Molina, Colorado, when he was home on furlough from the Army. She worked in the Collbran Hospital and Paul met her while visiting a cousin in recovery there. They began writing to each other after he went back to the Army. They were engaged in 1943, and married on June 30, 1945, at the Collbran Congregational Church. They were married 72 years until her death in 2017.
After the war was over, Paul and Joy went to Ft. Collins to finish his college education. He graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in vocational agriculture. Paul taught vocational agriculture at Rifle Union High School. In 1956, he joined the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. He earned his master's degree in education from CSU in 1960. While living in Rifle, Paul and Joy had three sons.
For his job, Paul traveled around Western Colorado, but they continued to enjoy living in the small town of Rifle. In 1963, the family moved to the Denver area so Paul could spend more time in the state office. He was Western Region Planner for the Division of Occupational Education when he retired in 1982.
After retirement, Paul went into business as a "House Mechanic," doing carpentry, general repairs, remodeling and furniture repair. He spent hours helping his sons with remodeling and building. He was active in the men's group at Grace United Methodist Church.
Pappy enjoyed camping and hunting elk at Peltier Lake on the South Fork of the White River. He hunted there for 50 seasons with family, friends and his favorite mules, Maggie and Jessie.
Paul and Joy traveled extensively, especially throughout the Southwest, to visit petroglyph sites with the American Rock Art Research Association and the Colorado Rock Art Association. Joy sold many paintings through her years at the Georgetown Gallery, and Paul supported her efforts with his framing expertise. They lived in Centennial for 47 years until they moved to Grand Junction in 2010.
Survived by his sister, his sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a great number of friends and shirt-tail relatives.
Paul grew up in Mesa with his two sisters, Evelyn (McNew) and Vera (Pearce). He graduated Mesa High School in 1936, and attended Grand Junction Junior College (Colorado Mesa University) from 1936 to 1938. Paul attended Colorado A and M (now CSU) in Ft. Collins from 1938 to 1941.
In September 1938, he joined the National Guard 168th Field Artillery and had guard duty every summer. In February 1941, his unit was called up for active duty in WWII. He attended Officer Candidate School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma from August to November, 1942. He served in the European and the Pacific Theaters. He was a Major in Field Artillery when he completed his Army service in March 1946.
Paul met his wife, Joy Johnson, of Molina, Colorado, when he was home on furlough from the Army. She worked in the Collbran Hospital and Paul met her while visiting a cousin in recovery there. They began writing to each other after he went back to the Army. They were engaged in 1943, and married on June 30, 1945, at the Collbran Congregational Church. They were married 72 years until her death in 2017.
After the war was over, Paul and Joy went to Ft. Collins to finish his college education. He graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in vocational agriculture. Paul taught vocational agriculture at Rifle Union High School. In 1956, he joined the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. He earned his master's degree in education from CSU in 1960. While living in Rifle, Paul and Joy had three sons.
For his job, Paul traveled around Western Colorado, but they continued to enjoy living in the small town of Rifle. In 1963, the family moved to the Denver area so Paul could spend more time in the state office. He was Western Region Planner for the Division of Occupational Education when he retired in 1982.
After retirement, Paul went into business as a "House Mechanic," doing carpentry, general repairs, remodeling and furniture repair. He spent hours helping his sons with remodeling and building. He was active in the men's group at Grace United Methodist Church.
Pappy enjoyed camping and hunting elk at Peltier Lake on the South Fork of the White River. He hunted there for 50 seasons with family, friends and his favorite mules, Maggie and Jessie.
Paul and Joy traveled extensively, especially throughout the Southwest, to visit petroglyph sites with the American Rock Art Research Association and the Colorado Rock Art Association. Joy sold many paintings through her years at the Georgetown Gallery, and Paul supported her efforts with his framing expertise. They lived in Centennial for 47 years until they moved to Grand Junction in 2010.
Survived by his sister, his sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a great number of friends and shirt-tail relatives.
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