J. FOSTER CATHCART

J. FOSTER CATHCART passed away peacefully following a long journey with Alzheimer's Disease. He died at his home in Spring Texas, in the loving arms of his wife, Nancy and in the presence of his children.Foster was born in St. George, South Carolina on February 6, 1928 to Thomas Madden and Daisy Varn Cathcart and grew up in Bishopville, SC.He is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy Becker Cathcart. Together they shared six children. Those born to Foster are John T. Cathcart of Miramar, Florida, Daisy Jean Cathcart of Newport Beach, California, and Lisa B. O'Connell of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Those born to Nancy are Diana Becker Hendricks, of San Marcos, Texas, Ron Becker of Richmond Hill, Georgia, and Guy Becker of Owasso, Oklahoma. He is survived by sixteen grandchildren: Michael and Nicole Cathcart, Sean, Lauren, Ryan and Daniel O'Connell, Jenni Finlay McNeill, Sterling and HalleyAnna Finlay, DeLynn Mitchell, Patrick Hendricks, Shelby Becker, Krissy Becker, Cody and Brandon Becker and, Alex Freeman. He had three great-grandchildren, Belle and Trent Cathcart and Annie Finlay. He was predeceased by his brother, John Varn Cathcart of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and his sister, Jean Cathcart Thomas of Columbia, South Carolina.He served in the U.S. Army 417th Division in Europe toward the end of World War II, traveling with the reorganized Glenn Miller Orchestra and entertaining American troops at military bases in Germany, France and England.Foster had a long and distinguished record of work and academic pursuits. He earned a BA in Textile Manufacturing from Clemson, University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He was President of Clemson University's Class of 1951. Like many of his fellow Clemson Alumni, Foster maintained a tight and enduring bond with Clemson through various Alumni organizations. He was a lifelong Clemson Tiger supporter, traveling across oceans to attend special sporting events.After graduation, he joined E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, serving in various capacities throughout the United States and the world, including Geneva, Switzerland, Monterrey, Mexico and Mexico City where he capped off his thirty-four year career as the President of DuPont Mexico-Latin America. A tireless and experienced leader, Foster also served as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico; Chairman, U. S. Legislation Committee, Vice President, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and a Steering Committee Member, US - Mexico Business Committee Council.In 1985, his decades-spanning experience in international business and manufacturing was recognized by the President of the United States and he was selected to serve in President Reagan`s Executive Exchange Program. He was appointed to the position of Chief Economic Officer in the Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Throughout the twenty-four months in this post, he worked closely with various American and foreign Embassies, international, regional and national trade organizations, associations and corporations to promote U.S. business interests and increased trade, primarily through the newly-created Caribbean Basin Initiative. During this time, he had the opportunity to meet personally with Pope John Paul at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, and other Heads of State throughout Europe.After his extremely successful careers in corporate and government service, Foster retired to Houston, Texas where he acquired a commercial flooring company, Flooring Systems, Inc., which was based in Houston. As Chief Executive Officer, he was active in the Greater Houston Builders' Association and was an Industry Partner of ASID, Houston. He served on the Board of Directors for the Houston Chapter of Volunteers in America and was a Board Member on Oconee Memorial Hospital System's Board of Directors in Seneca, South Carolina.Foster's strong Christian faith and dedication to his beloved Episcopal Church was in evidence throughout his life. No matter where he lived, in the United States, Europe or Latin America, he managed to do God's work in a variety of important church-related positions, serving parishes as Senior Warden, Vestryman, Lay Reader, Eucharistic Minister and friend. He proudly served on nine Episcopal Vestries in three countries. His diligence and perseverance was instrumental in planting the first Episcopal mission in Monterrey, Mexico. Everywhere he worshiped, he left behind a legacy of hard work, dedication, involvement and experience to the benefit of each and every parish of which he was a member.A Memorial Service will be held at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 14301 Stuebner Airline Road, Houston, TX 77069 at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 23, 2009. The family will be receiving friends after the service at a reception in the Church Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his memory to the Memorial Fund at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 14603 Stuebner Airline, Houston, TX 77069 or to Lighthouse Hospice, 14011 Park Drive, Suite 201, Tomball, TX 77377.The family wishes to thank all the nurses and caregivers at Lighthouse Hospice for their endless devotion and care. The family also wishes to extend their love and heartfelt appreciation to Foster's personal care nurses, Glenn Smikle and Sandra Ramos.