Person:William Foskey (2)

1920 Census William Foskey was enumerated in his mother Maggie L. Foskey’s household in Militia District 1503, Bleckley County, Georgia with his brothers Burrell, Emmett and Howard and sisters Hazel and Doris. William was 6 years old, and single. He and both parents were born in Georgia.

1930 Census William Foskey was enumerated in his brother-in-law William Smith’s household in Frazier District 1503, Bleckly County, Georgia with his sister Fannie, nieces Pauline, Florence, Virginia, Monelle, and Frances, and sister Doris Foskey. He was 16 years old, and single. He and both parents were born in Georgia.

He quit school at age 14 and farmed until age 18 when he went to California. His brothers Jim, Bob, Howard were already there.

Bill enlisted 12 March 1943 at NRS, Los Angeles, California as a Ship’s Cook Third Class (CB). At discharge he was promoted to Ship’s Cook 2nd Class. He served in the Mariannas and Hawaii. He was also on the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill. His unit made a landing strip out of coral on Tinian Island. He served: NRS Los Angeles, Calif.; Batt’s USNCTC WimVa.; 92nd Naval Const. Batt.; USNH Oakland, Calif.; USNH Long Beach, Calif.; USNCH Beaumont, Calif. He was honorably discharged from the US Naval Convalescent Hospital, Beaumont, California on 2 May 1945. His service number was 878 10 61. Discharge was signed by P.S. McLennan, Comdr. (MC) His monthly pay rate at discharge was $96.00.

He worked in a restaurant before and after the War. He and Judy met in a coffee shop in a hotel in Santa Maria, California in the Fall of 1945. They were married in June, 1946 and moved to Tucson in October that same year.

His wife, Judy, inherited her father’s farm in Atlanta, Cass, Texas in 1951. They lived there until 1954 when they moved back to Tucson. Bill was a landscaper until moving to California in 1964. He was physically unable to work due to an old Navy injury to his neck. He and Judy lived in several mobile home parks until their divorce in 1978. After his marriage to Dorothy they moved to “the river” (Colorado River in Arizona) where both lived out their lives.

Although he was gruff, Bill had a sense of humor, teased the waitresses and nurses, and laughed out loud at Red Skelton. He enjoyed playing pool and was good at it. He read the National Geographic and enjoyed touring historical places. In later years he visited the Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado and Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota. It was difficult for him to sell his pickup truck after twenty years but was offered a good price for it. He was proud of his naval service. His lawns were always green (even in Arizona) and his roses always bloomed.

Memorial is posted on www.findagrave.com

1. ↑ William Astor Foskey Birth Certificate, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia. Document Binder number B-1, p. 31..
2. ↑ William A. Foskey Death Certificate, State of Arizona, number 93-006770. Document Binder number B-1, p. 42..
3.   1920 U.S. Census, Maggie L. Foskey household, Militia District 1503, Bleckly County, Georgia, population schedule, enumeration district 7,.
4.   1930 U.S. Census, William Smith household, Frazier W. District 1503, Bleckly County, Georgia, population schedule, enumeration district 12-.
5.   William A. Foskey Certificate of Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy signed by F.F. Murdoch, Captain (MC) USN Medical Officer i.
6. ↑ Ashes placed, South Lawn Cemetery