Harold E. Foss
January 27, 1914 - August 27, 2015
Obituary
Harold E. Foss
Harold E. Foss went to be with the Lord on August 27, 2015. He was 101 years old.
Harold was born in Sandpoint, Idaho on January 27, 1914, where he grew up and attended high school. He then attended Kinman Business College in Spokane. Upon graduation, he obtained a job with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at Grand Coulee Dam. He worked there until he joined the US Army Air Force in July 1942. He studied electronics and eventually specialized in B-29 Airborne Radar in the Northern Mariana Islands – Guam, Saipan, and Tinian in the South Pacific. He was there when the B-29 Enola Gay left Tinian – bound for Hiroshima – with the atomic bomb.
Despite being wounded by a shell explosion, Harold found these islands very beautiful and always hoped to return for a vacation, but never got closer than Hawaii.
After the war, in 1946, Harold returned to his civilian job and was transferred to Ephrata where he became a photographer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. He received many honors for his photographs, some of which appeared in the U.S. Camera Annual – a collection of the year’s best pictures – competing with many international photographers.
Harold met his wife, Lorraine, in Seattle. They were married October 9, 1948. Their two sons, Gary and Maury, were born in 1949 and 1952.
In 1953, taking advantage of his electronics training, Harold transferred back to Grand Coulee Dam, where he became a power plant operator and held that position until he retired in 1976. He was actively involved in the American Legion and served as a local leader for the Boy Scouts of America.
Harold and Lorraine joined the Electric City Baptist Church in 1967. After retirement they made a very special trip to Greece, the Middle East, and the Holy Land, where they had the wonderful experience of following the paths where Jesus once walked. Other trips followed – to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Upon retirement, Harold and Lorraine moved to Auburn where they managed the Auburn Manor Mobile Home Park. They joined Grace Community Church where they were active in the Lamplighters, a senior group. They loved the Lord and the church was a very important part of their lives. They were blessed to have many close friends there.
Harold spent the last five years of his life at the A Serenity Adult Family Home in Auburn. He received excellent care from the staff and was loved by all.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine, son Maury, and sister Edith. He is survived by his son Gary, of Covington, and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Community Church in Auburn on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at 1:00 pm. Inurnment will be at Washington Memorial, SeaTac, Washington.