FOSTER, JESSE C.

Charlie Foster, 89, passed away in Bakersfield, CA on Saturday November 13, 2010. Charlie was born on July 31, 1921 in Reward, CA and grew up in Taft, CA. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and served during three wars. He bravely fought in World War II with the 4th Raider Battalion, in the Korean War with the 7th Engineering Battalion and served at Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii during the Vietnam War. After a distinguished 22-year career with the U.S.M.C., he retired with the rank of Master Sergeant. He returned to Taft and started a job with the U.S. Postal Service and served as a mail carrier for 17 years. Charlie was a long-time member of the Taft First Assembly of God Church, where he was a deacon and taught Sunday School. For the past four years, he attended Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield. He was a loving and generous man who opened up his home and family to others and become a second “Dad” or “Grandpa” to those in need of one. Charlie is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary (Ault) Foster; daughter, Janice Brown and her husband, Gary; daughter-in-law, Betty Foster; four grandsons, Chris (Ricki) Foster, Dwayne (Nanetta) Ward, Mike (fiancé Jennifer Gutierrez) Foster and Joel (Rachael) Foster; eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Nellie Foster; his son, Jim Foster; two sisters, Ellen Lyon, Betty Greagrey and brother, Joe Foster. Graveside service will be held Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at West Side District Cemetery in Taft. Visitation will be at Erickson & Brown Funeral Home in Taft on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, from 3:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., and Thursday, from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.