John Worth Foust M.D.

1930 - 2021

John Worth Foust, MD
November 17, 1930 - July 20, 2021
Charlotte, North Carolina - John Worth Foust, MD, died on July 20, 2021. He was born on November 17, 1930 in Lexington, NC to John Wesley and Annie Smith Foust. John grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School in 1948. He attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and was accepted into its Medical School after three years, receiving his undergraduate degree after his freshman year in 1952. John graduated from Medical School in 1955 and continued for another two years of initial postgraduate residency work in surgery specializing in Otolaryngology (ENT). Because he had been deferred for military service while in medical school during the Korean War, he was required to serve two years in the military. He was assigned to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines as chief of Otolaryngology. After serving, he returned to Chapel Hill to complete his training in ENT to become Board Certified. John stayed and served on the faculty of Otolaryngology in Chapel Hill for two years.
In 1963, he came to Charlotte with the Nalle Clinic. In 1965, he left the Nalle Clinic and with Dr. Don Roberson formed the Randolph Road Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic P.A. The two practiced there until 1998 when they retired. At the time of his retirement, the group had grown to a total of eight physicians. When asked if he was glad to be out of medicine he said, "No, because I miss the patients, but yes, because of all the third-party government and interference."
Dr. Foust was licensed by the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, was certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). In Charlotte, he was on the staff of Charlotte Memorial, Mercy, and Presbyterian Hospitals. At Presbyterian, he served one term as Chief of Staff. He was a member of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, North Carolina Medical Society, American Medical Society, American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Society of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Rhinology Society, American Society for the Study of Headaches, Nathan Womack Surgical Society, The Newton Fischer Ear, Nose, and Throat Society, and NC-SC Society of Otolaryngology. In 1982, he served as President of the Mecklenburg Medical Society. In 1985, he was elected President of the North Carolina Medical Society. John was on the Board of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine for several years and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Blue Cross-Blue Shield of North Carolina for nine years. John also served a term on the North Carolina Medical Board.
Dr. Foust was active in the community serving on the Board of Directors of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Chamber of Commerce in 1982-83 and 1986-87. He was honored to serve a three-year term on the Board of Visitors of the University at Chapel Hill. John was given a Distinguished Service Award by the Medical School in 1988. He was a member of the United Way of Central Carolina in 1987-89 and again in 2000-02. John was a member of the board of the Regional HIV/Aids Consortium from 1995-2005. In 2003, he was awarded a Governor's World Aids Day Volunteer Appreciation Award. It was "in recognition of distinguished community service in the fight against HIV/Aids." Serving on the Loyalty Fund for the Medical School at UNC Chapel Hill, he was instrumental in raising over $13 million and was named National Chairman of the Loyalty fund, serving until 2009. From these contributions, a number of full tuition scholarships for students and four Alumni Teaching Professorships were created. In 2009 when he retired as National Chairman of the Loyalty Fund, he was honored by having one of the alumni teaching professorships named for him. John was appointed to the Board of the Medical Foundation of North Carolina and served on its executive committee. Upon completion of this service, he was appointed a lifelong ex-officio member of the board. His wife once said, "I think he walks into meetings with his hand raised."
Dr. Foust was an avid woodworker and built traditional furniture for his home and children. He had a home at Ocean Isle Beach where he enjoyed fishing and relaxing with family and friends.
Dr. Foust was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. In 1955 he married Doris Teachey who preceded him in death in 1995. In 1997, he married Ann Barber Maynard who survives him. He is also survived by three sons and one daughter: John Philip (Laura), Newton Douglas (Juanita), Kenneth Ross and Laura Anne. He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Wesley in 2005. He is survived by three stepdaughters, Ann Pershke (Jon), Katherine Weller (Jim) and Kimberley Maynard. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Paul, Sara, (Mark) Wyatt, Doris, Jamie, Alex, Graham, Lauren, Amanda, Courtney, and Katie, and one great-grandchild, Liam.
Dr. Foust was a longtime member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 2:00 PM at St. Mark's Lutheran Church with a reception immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 1001 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC. 28207 or to The Medical Foundation of North Carolina c/o The Loyalty Fund, 880 MLK, Jr Blvd, CB#7565, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2600, or to The Charlotte Region of Hospice, or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.