Walter C. Foulkes

Walter C. Foulkes of St. Charles A funeral Mass for Walter C. Foulkes, 83, will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, at St. Patrick Church, 408 Cedar St., St. Charles, with Monsignor Joseph B. Linster, celebrant. Born Dec. 21, 1919, in North Freedom, Wis., the son of Charles and Audrey (nee Cook), Foulkes, he died Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, St. Charles. Walter came to St. Charles when he was two years old. He attended Shelby School and graduated from St. Charles High School in 1936. During World War II, he served in the Army in the 3rd Infantry Division. He was a life member of American Legion Post #342 in St. Charles. For 17 years, he was employed by Hawley Products and for Moline Malleable Iron Company in St. Charles for 17 years. He was past president of American Institute of Plant Engineers, and Manufacturing Engineers. In 1972 - 1973, he was named Plant Engineer of the Year. He served on Elgin Community College Vocational Technology Board. Walter was active in scouting, serving as a Webelos leader of Pack 110 and Scoutmaster of Troop 10, St. Patrick Church. A dedicated community leader, Walter entered politics in 1975 as second ward alderman in St. Charles and served 22 years. He also served as mayor pro-tem. He was the driving force behind the construction of the Prairie Street Bridge, which was formally dedicated in his honor in 1994. He was past president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and in 1996, was awarded the coveted Charlemagne Award in recognition of his community service. In 1984, he co-chaired the St. Charles sesquicentennial celebration. For many years he enjoyed racing pigeons with the St. Charles Homers Club. Walter is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary; children, Kathleen (Gerald) Mertes of Geneva, Mary (Bill) Essling of Aurora, Sheila Foulkes of Chicago, Charles (Janet) Foulkes, Michael (Kathleen) Foulkes and John (Maryanne) Foulkes, all of St. Charles; 17 grandchildren, Aimee (Dan) Snellbeck, Jacqueline and Erin Foulkes, John (Susan), James (Shelby), and Scott (Shelly) Mertes, Stephen and Sarah Foulkes, Jennifer (David) Reuss, Matthew Foulkes, Julie (Jeremy) Benoit and Mark Foulkes, Bethanne and Rebecca Foulkes, and Samantha and Nicole Essling; six great-grandchildren, Marissa, Jack and Colin Mertes, Jessica and Erynn Snellbeck, Daniel Foulkes and anticipating another great-grandchild in July. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, William C. Foulkes on June 3, 1989; grandson, Brian Foulkes in 1989; and brothers, Charles and Thomas Foulkes. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, at the Norris Funeral Home, 100 S. Third St., St. Charles, where the rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in Walter's memory may be made to St. Patrick's Church. Friends may visit www.dailyherald.com/obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For funeral information, (630)584-2000 or www.NorrisFH.com.