Wallace Clemons Foster

Wallace Clemons Foster, CWO, W-4, USAF Retired, passed away at home June 22, 2020. He was 103 years old. He was born March 18, 1917 to Susie Florence Carter and Harry Clemons Foster in Storm Lake, Iowa. After completing High School in Iowa, he traveled to Seattle, WA where he met Mimi aka “Duchess”, ice skating. They married in 1942 at Camp Murphy, FL, where Wally was in training following his induction into the army. He served in the Signal Corps in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during WWII, New Guinea, and Southern Philippines. After the war he served in the Air National Guard and was recalled to active duty in May 1951. He was stationed at a number of USAF Bases as a Ground Radar Superintendent, including Biggs AFB, El Paso, TX where he retired in 1971 with 70% disability due to glaucoma. He continued with his passion for electronics and tinkering in retirement, working for the Newspaper Printing Corporation for 5 years as a maintenance engineer. He was an active ham-radio operator, call letters AA5EA, and connected with people all over the world into his 90s. He attended the VA Western Blind Rehab Center in 1991 in Palo Alto, CA, and was able to remain in his home on his own after his wife passed in 2001 using the skills to manage the effects of sight loss learned there. He famously walked all over N.E. El Paso with his white cane, running errands and joining his friends at Denny’s, & later Bucks into his 90’s. He was a voracious reader and utilized the Library of Congress audio book program until his death. Wally especially enjoyed his good friend Lou, also a ham radio operator, who visited him regularly until the pandemic shut things down. He is survived by his daughters, Pamela Sue Hackett, of El Paso, TX and Shelly Joy Martin of San Diego, CA and his grandchildren, Kimberly Hackett, Tiffany Smalley, Curtis Hackett (Janet), Noelle Jaco, and Jason Martin and his great grandchildren Raini Chase, Reagan and Riley Jaco, Tyler and Travis Smalley. Wally enjoyed all the family visits and travels for birthdays and to various military reunions with his daughters. Wally is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother Dale, and sister Dorothy, grandson-in-law Josh Jaco, and great grandson Mason Hackett. Committal will take place at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery on July 9th, 2020 at 11:00 AM with full military honors. Please visit online registry at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.