Leonard H. Foster

Leonard H. Foster passed away peacefully in his sleep Feb. 29, 2012.

He was born May 9, 1918 in Duck Range, British Columbia, Canada. In 1922, he moved with his family to Everett, Wash. and in 1924 entered Garfield Grade School in Everett where he attended school until 10th grade. In 1934, Leonard's family moved to Blaine, Wash., and he graduated from Blaine High School in 1936.

Upon graduating, Len entered an apprenticeship at Everett Sheet Metal. After finishing, he took a job as a sheet metal mechanic in the Bremerton Naval shipyards. On April 17, 1943, he married the love of his life, Lenore May Johnson. Leonard joined the Navy on April 1, 1944, and served as a radar man on a submarine chaser in The Aleutian Islands.

In 1949, Len and Lenore established Foster Sheet Metal in Kennewick, Wash., which became a prosperous business. He proudly served on the Kennewick School Board for multiple terms in the late 1960s and early ‘70s in accordance with his strong belief in public education.

Len and Lenore raised their four children on a small piece of acreage in Kennewick where they dedicated themselves to providing the most enriched lives for their children that they could. Animals, music, the arts and travel were paramount to them, and they instilled a love of all of these in their children.

Len was very active in the sheet metal industry, serving as president of the local SMACNA chapter and appointed to a position on the National SMACNA board. He was very proud of the apprentices trained in his shop.

Leonard retired in 1986 and sold the business which is now Apollo Sheet Metal. After retiring, Len and Lenore moved to their home on Badger Lake, Wash., eventually building a home and living at The Fairways Golf Course neighborhood near Cheney.

Preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Lenore, on Feb. 6, 2003, son Loren, on Dec. 20, 2009, his parents, Louise and Horace, sister, Irene (Coles), and half siblings, June and Ed. After Lenore passed away, Len was fortunate to have the companionship of his dear friend, Joyce Mitchell, who preceded him in death on Oct. 6, 2011.

Len is survived by his daughter, Peggy Foster Hexum (Mark), of Finley, Wash., son, Bill Foster (Erin), of Cheney, daughter, Tina (Scott) Ocheltree of Bellingham, Wash., thirteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and pal, Toby, his Yorkshire Terrier.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Kennewick, Wash., at 2 p.m. on March 31, 2012. Cheney Funeral Chapel in charge of cremation. Online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.