Francis I. Foose
(from Foose Lineage: 459. Francis I. FOOSE (179.Irvin⁶, 60.Benjamin⁵, 35.Joseph⁴, 16.Conrad³, 7.Conrad ², 1.Johan¹)

The funeral for Francis I Foose of Martinsville, VA, who died March 2, 2005, at Memorial Hospital will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor Lynn Bechdolt will officiate. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery Park with full military honors. The family will receive friends at the church from 1-2 p.m. Saturday. Memorials may be made to the ParkinsonÕs Disease Foundation, 710 W. 168th St., New York, N.Y. 10032.

Francis was born in Allentown, Pa., on Nov. 10, 1920, to Irvin Oliver Foose and Blanche Schmick Foose. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a stepson, Fred William Newman.

Francis was a decorated combat veteran of World War II, serving as a platoon leader with the 314^th Infantry Regiment, 79^th Division (Lorraine Cross Division). This is the same unit his father, Irvin, served with in WWI. He sustained severe wounds during operations near Rheims, France. He was evacuated first to England and then to the U.S.

Following extensive surgery and rehabilitation, Francis was employed as Cost Accountant and later Auditor with the Federal Government, retiring with more than 30 years service. He actively supported the Boy Scouts of America in various capacities, accumulating more than 35 years service, and was awarded the Silver Beaver. Francis was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Martinsville and a lifelong Lutheran.

Surviving are his wife, Galilee Black Newman Foose of the home; a daughter, Delores L. Thomas of Palm Harbor, FL, a son, Robert H. Foose of Birmingham, AL, a brother, Robert T. Foose of Lancaster, PA, a stepdaughter Brenda N. Jordan of Martinsville, a stepson, John A. Newman of Acworth, GA; two grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.