Foster Elswick

Foster Elswick, 96 years young of Mount Carbon, WV, formerly of Logan WV, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2020 with his daughter, Melissa Elswick by his side. He was born on September 16, 1923 in Pikeville, Kentucky to the late Amey Elswick. He attended Virgie High School. He traveled to Utah as a part of the Civilian Conservation Corps at 18 years old. CCC was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families as part of the New Deal. As part of the CCC he mended and built snow fences, along with other labor-intensive work. He was drafted into the Army in 1943 during World War 2 and he spent three years traveling across the world to Panama, India and Australia. He told everyone about how he saw Enola Gay, a modified Boeing B-29 bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, before it was armed. Following the war Foster settled with his family in Logan County, where he worked in printing for over 40 years. He ran the print press for The Logan News and later worked at as printer for The Logan Banner for 9 years before retiring. He was a proud member of The Lion’s Club for many years and enjoyed coaching his children’s baseball and softball teams. He enjoyed music and dancing. He loved being with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Reba Elswick (Brumfield) and his second wife, Amanda Elswick(Pennington) ; brother, Aster Elswick( Pat) ; and four sisters, Lucille Mullins (Horace) , Billie Carte (Paul), Mabel Hatfield (Marrow) and Bess Klele (Albert). Those left to cherish his memory are his 3 children: son, Jerry Elswick of Scottsboro, Alabama and daughter’s, Susan Elswick Ferrell (Rick) of Mount Carbon, WV and Melissa Elswick (Michael) of Beckley, WV. Three stepsons, John Patterson (Lola) of Ashland, Ky, Randy Patterson (Pat) of Logan, WV and Fred Patterson (Rose) of Kentucky , grandchildren, Melanie Webster, David Elswick, Seth Ferrell, Orion Wills, Eli Wills, Amanda Patterson, Henry Patterson, Timothy Webb and Michael Riddle, 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation too the entire staff at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation in Montgomery WV for the excellent care provided to our loved one during his stay with them. His life will be celebrated at a memorial service that will be held at a later date. Information regarding the memorial will be distributed to all once plans are in place and everyone who loved him will be welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that donations be made to your local Lion’s Club or Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Montgomery, WV. Online condolences may be left at www.jamesfh.com. Akers-James Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.