Obituary of Burns Wilfred Foster

FOSTER, Burns Wilfred – Of Metcalf Gardens, St. Thomas, died at his residence on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 in his 95th year. Dad was born on August 21, 1922 in Leamington, only son of Mildred Leitha Derbyshire and Wilfred Earl Foster. Dad and his parents moved to Delhi in 1927. In his youth, Dad was active in Scouting right through to King’s Scout, and also worked at the local Taylor’s Drug Store. Dad joined the RCAF in April of 1942 and served until 1945. Dad married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Caffery on October 31, 1942, while on weekend leave from serving in the RCAF. Dad had been a Bomb Aimer, proudly flying in Lancaster bombers. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on November 14, 1944. In addition he was awarded the 39/45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star with France and Germany Bar, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Bar and the War Medal. Dad finished his Pharmacy Degree from the University of Toronto in 1947, and returned to work at Taylor’s Drug Store in Delhi in 1948. He finished his pharmacy career in St. Thomas at Big V after moving to St. Thomas in 1978. Our parent’s marriage lasted 72 years until Mom’s death in 2015. Burns is survived by daughter Judith Lynn and her husband Roger DeGroote of St. Thomas and Douglas Burns Foster and his wife Lois of Sydney River, Nova Scotia. Cherished grandfather of Douglas De Groote (Jennifer) and their children Elijah, Joel, Luke and Nate, Sandra De Groote, Patricia Rodgers (Jeremy) and their children Emma and Owen, Burns Maher-Foster (Jan) and their children Rowan and Wesley, Tim Foster (Val), Molly Foster, and Jonathan McDougall (Ellen). Visitation will be held at the Shawn Jackson Funeral Home 31 Elgin Street, St. Thomas (519-631-0570) on Friday, January 13, 2017 from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-8:00 p.m., where the funeral service will be held in the chapel on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery. If desired, donations to STEGH-Foundation or a charity of choice would be gratefully acknowledged. Personal condolences to the family can be made at www.shawnjacksonfuneralhome.comCharitable donations may be made to: St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Foundation 189 Elm St, St. Thomas ON N5R 5C4 Web: http://www.itsourhospital.ca/ Service Information