Dr. George A. Foelker Jr.

1951 - 2017

Dr. George A. Foelker Jr.

San Angelo

Dr. George A. Foelker Jr., 66, of San Angelo, passed away on Sept. 27, 2017, at his residence. Visitation was all day Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at Shaffer Funeral Home with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral service is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Shaffer Funeral Home's Sherwood Way Chapel with Alex Rios officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Bronte, Texas. Services are under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home/Sherwood Way.

Dr. Foelker was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland to George A. Foelker and Clara (Stewart) Foelker on July 21, 1951. He was a 1969 graduate of San Angelo Central High School where he was a proud member of the Mighty Bobcat Band. He earned a BA in Psychology from Angelo State University in 1973, MA in General/Experimental Psychology from North Texas State University in 1975 and a PhD in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of South Florida in 1985. He began his career focused on gerontology services but expanded into working with intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals after meeting his future wife in 1987 at a TAMR (Texas Association on Mental Retardation) Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a lengthy courtship, George and Mary Jane married Aug. 9, 1997, in San Angelo. Dr. Foelker then began his private practice locally as a consulting and clinical psychologist. His practice was based on individual and family therapy; diagnostic testing and evaluations for children and adults as well as providing consultation services for mental health and intellectual disabilities providers.

He was a firm, dedicated advocate for children, adults and elderly individuals with physical and/or mental deficits. Dr. Foelker was an accomplished and recognized professional; he worked tirelessly and was skilled beyond the many accolades and accomplishments he earned during his lifetime.

As a young man, George earned a black belt in Taekwondo practicing under the direction of the Grand Master closely affiliated with training actor Chuck Norris. He earned a youth bowling championship in 1966 and was also a respectable pool player. Dr. Foelker developed an interest in local stock car racing and with the help of friends and family, he built his own stock car. He was the Spring Season Champion in his class (street stock) in 2001 and won the Southern Challenge Championship October 2003. He enjoyed attending Central High School football games, especially to hear the halftime shows performed by the bands.

Dr. Foelker was preceded in death by his father, George A. Foelker; his mother, Clara (Toby) Foelker; his only sibling, brother Viscount Foelker; infant grandson Jaxon Robert Martinez; and their beloved family chihuahua, Shakers.

Dr. Foelker is survived by his wife of 20 years, Mary Jane (Zuniga) Foelker; children Stephanie Martinez; granddaughter Erin Shaye Martinez of San Angelo; Michael and his wife Candace Martinez of Royse City, Texas; and granddaughters Ava and Juliet. He is also survived by two constant companions, family pets Dakota Velvet and Bruno Mars.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Dr. Darrell Herrington, Solaris Hospice and his doctors at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Online condolences may be made at shafferpioneer.com.