LeRoy E. Foster General Electric Executive

LeRoy E. Foster age 78 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family members early Wednesday morning on March 31 2010. He is survived by his loving wife Mary; children: Stephen Richard Foster of Texas LeRoy E. Foster (Buzzy) of Florida Bryan Foster of Alabama William Foster of Florida Cheryl Foster Beidler of Florida and Karen Foster Jewell of Maryland; and nine grandchildren.

Mr. Foster distinguished himself over a brilliant career in Engineering and Management at General Electric. He worked for GE for all his adult life much of the time in Daytona Beach where he retired in 1990. He was a 1956 graduate of General Electric's Advanced Engineering Program -- an intensive doctoral level advanced course in engineering for young engineering graduates. Mr. Foster earned the unique distinction of working his way into and through that program without a formal engineering degree. H authored the cornerstone technical reference book Telemetry Systems published by Wiley in 1965.

Mr. Foster frequently stood up to solve tough engineering and organizational challenges as a "Mister Fix-it" for GE. He led the design and development of the automatic test and checkout equipment for the spacecraft used during manufacturing and launch preparation in the Apollo program. He later took the challenge to lead design and development for the Apollo launch vehicle's automatic checkout equipment in Huntsville Alabama. Later he served on a task force evaluating GE's role in the computer business. He led the engineering and manufacturing of simulation and control equipment in Dayton Beach. At Valley Forge PA he led the engineering manufacturing and test of complex military and scientific satellites. His last assignment at GE was as General Manager of the Simulation and Control Systems business in Daytona Beach before merger of that business into Lockheed Martin.

Mr. Foster was intensely dedicated to his wife his family the family pets and to his hobbies including history technology crossword puzzles and studying the bible.

A tribute gathering to the life Mr. Foster is scheduled for May 1 2010 at Oceanside Country Club. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to the Halifax Humane Society. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond.