Dear Cousins, Some of you have heard of Jack Foster, I'm sorry to hear he passed away. In my Family Tree I have a James Philip Foster, this may be Jack's father. Which means: Philip Allwein and Elizabeth Arentz ----Rebecca A. Allwein and Philip S. Arnold ------Elizabeth Margaret Arnold and Charles F. Foster ---------James Philip Foster Cuz-n Nancy Lebanon Daily News Lebanon, Pennsylvania Tuesday, February 27, 2001 Local church, civic leader dies By JOHN LATIMER Staff Writer A lifetime resident of Lebanon county whose work helped preserve the Union Canal Tunnel and whose activities with the Boy Scouts prompted some to remember him as a hero died this weekend after a lengthy illness. John J. "Jack" Foster, 88, of Cornwall Manor and formerly of 720 Locust St., Lebanon, died of leukemia Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001, at home. He was the husband of Doris E. James Foster, with whom he celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on Oct. 8. "Jack was what you could say a hero to me and so many young men," said Pete Silldorff, who met him when both where involved with what was then the Lebanon Boy Scout Council. "He was a hands-on person; he was a man you really admire deeply because of his well-rounded nature, his activities and interests." Born July 4, 1912, in Lebanon, he was a son of the late James P. and Irene Werth Foster. He spent all his working life as an employee of the Lebanon Steel Foundry, retiring in 1976 as purchasing manager with almost 48 years of service. He attended St. Mary's School, was a 1930 graduate of Lebanon High School and attended St. Vincent College and Seminary. An Eagle Scout, he remained active in the Scouting organization all his life as an adult volunteer. He served as scoutmaster of troops 11 and 33. He was awarded the Silver Beaver award from the local council and the St. George award from the Catholic Committee for Scouting. He recently received the 75-year veteran pin from the Boy Scouts of America. He participated in the Kodak Photo of the Century on July 4, 1999, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to celebrate the millennium. He was the regional representative for people born on the fourth of July. A lifelong member of St. Mary's Church, he served as a Eucharist minister and lector. He was past president of the Holy Name Society and its secretary for many years. He was active in all the church's building projects, and for a long time was the parish historian. During World War II, he served with the Marines and spent time with them in the occupation of Japan. He was discharged with the rank of corporal. After the war, he became active in veterans' affairs. He was a charter member of the Father Henry B. Strickland Post 1193, Catholic War Veterans, served one year as commander and 35 years as adjutant and was a life member. In 1981, he was the recipient of their National Celtic Cross Citation Award. He was also a life member of the Lebanon VFW and the Lebanon County Detachment, Marine Corps League. He was past president of the Lebanon Advisory Council and the recipient of its Outstanding Service Award. He was a life member of the Lebanon County Historical Society, serving as its president on two different occasions. Through his leadership, the Old Tunnel was purchased, and work begun on its restoration. He was a charter member of Lebanon Council Knights of Columbus and was a Fourth Degree Knight, and life member. He was a past president of the local council of the Pennsylvania Catholic Beneficial League and served for a time as vice president of the Grand Council. He was considered a local historian and was the author of five books: "The Story Of The Assumption B.V.M. Church"; "A Priest For All Men," a biography of Father Henry B. Strickland; "The Circle L Story," a history of the Lebanon Steel Foundry; "On My Honor," the history of the Lebanon County Council, Boy Scouts of America; and "History Of The Eighth Field Depot And Eighth Service Regiment," his Marine Corps Regiment. "You can't say anything bad about Jack," recalled Earl Leiby, another past president of the Lebanon County Historical Society. "Back in 1950, when the historical first purchased the southern entrance to the canal and 8 acres of land, he was instrumental in the purchase and served as the first chairman of the tunnel committee," recalled Leiby. Silldorff said Foster was able to enjoy the results of a project he helped initiate when he took a barge ride through the canal tunnel after it was opened in September. "He really was absolutely thrilled to do that," said Silldorff. "I introduced him to everybody on the boat as the person responsible (for saving the tunnel). Silldorff also credited Foster for his efforts to preserve history, especially that of the local Boy Scouts. He was a bookbinder who bound records and articles pertaining to Boy Scout activity, he said. "He was one of kind," said Silldorff. "I keep wondering who is going to be the next one. Where do you find men like him?" Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughter Anne Elizabeth, wife of Fred J. Arnold of Endicott, N.Y.; son James P., husband of Ann Marie Foster of Lebanon; sisters Dorothy Kovach, Mary Bleistein, Sara Marko and Hilda Fasnacht, all of Lebanon; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers Charles, Joseph and Robert Foster. His funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Thompson Funeral Home, 126 S. Ninth St., Lebanon. There will be a viewing from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, with recitation of the Rosary at 8. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Church, 2 N. Eighth St., Lebanon. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.