Foster Reid Needels

1930 - 2021

Foster Reid Needels was born July 22, 1930 in Hays, Kansas. He was the eldest child born to Allen Keith Needels and Elta Mae (Edgerton) Needels. Foster lived in Hays until he enlisted in the Air Force in December of 1950, where he served as a Radio Technician in Greenland and the United States. He was honorably discharged in September of 1954. After receiving his Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1959 from Kansas State College (Now Kansas State University) in Manhattan, Kansas, he worked as a Transit Systems Engineer all over the US and in Canada, Southeast Asia, and London England. On September 21, 1952 he married Donna Lea Gibson. Together they raised three children: Dwight, Jeannette, and Cynthia.

Foster Needels of Galveston, Texas was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Marilyn (Needels) Welling, and his son Dwight Leroy Needels. He leaves a large and loving family who will miss him terribly, his children and children-in-law: Theresa (Davis) Needels of San Antonio, Texas, Bob and Jeannette (Needels) Duke of Galveston, Texas, Henry and Cynthia (Needels) Perez of Houston, Texas, his 15 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren, a host great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

Foster was a talented musician, singing in many choirs through the years, and on occasion stepping up to direct when necessary. His love for music permeated his family life giving them many fond memories of singing in the car and around the campfire when on camping vacations. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, serving in a variety of capacities. Some of his fondest memories are: making music, tent camping and hiking in Colorado with his family, and traveling the Orient with Donna. He passed away on September 20, 2021, in Galveston, Texas just one day before their 69th wedding anniversary.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church of Conroe. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Conroe, Encompass Health Hospice of Houston, Texas, National Neuropathy Association, or a charity of your choice.