Eldon Leroy Foltz

Eldon Leroy Foltz, 94 yrs., long-time resident of Laguna Beach, CA died peacefully and surrounded by the love of his children and family in the comfort of the family home. Born in Fort Collins, CO on March 28, 1919 to Leroy Stewart Foltz and Emily Louise (Proctor) Foltz, Eldon grew up in East Lansing, Michigan where his father was Professor of Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University. He had one brother, Ermald(Dec.), and 2 sisters, Fayola(Dec.) and Elva Lea. Eldon spent many happy summers as a camp counselor on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was an accomplished musician and played the flute, and piccolo as a young man. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1941 (B.S., Magna Cum Laude), and then the University of Michigan Medical School in 1943 (M.D.) on a combined scholar program with Michigan State. Eldon Leroy Foltz was married to Catherine Churchill Crosby, a microbiologist at the University of Michigan, at the chapel of the Methodist church in Ann Arbor, MI on October 17, 1943 the day following his graduation from medical school and surgical internship at the University of Michigan. Eldon was then directly commissioned as Lieutenant into the U.S. Navy Corps in the south Pacific theater for 30 months on active duty, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After one year of general surgery residency at the University of Michigan, he became a graduate student in neuroanatomy and neuropathology. Neurosurgery residency at Dartmouth Medical School was followed by completion of the residency at the University of Louisville in 1950. His complete bio of research work is provided by "The Society of Neurological Surgeons" and can be found online. It has been used as a resource also for this obituary. "He became a post-doctoral fellow in the National Institute of Mental Health to study the limbic system and developed selective frontal leukotomy cingulotomy at the University of Washington, Seattle, with Dr. Arthur Ward." "He was awarded a John R. and Mary Markle scholarship in Medical Science from 1954-1959 at the University of Washington secondary to his coma and cingulum studies. This carried him into a full commitment to academic neurosurgery. He became a full Professor in Neurological surgery at the University of Washington in 1965." "Pediatric neurosurgery and hydrocephalus became an intense interest while in charge of the pediatric neurosurgical service at children's Hospital, Seattle. Controlled studies of shunting early in its use for hydrocephalus were carried out with the congenital defects Clinic. Hydrocephalus ICP/ CSF pulse aberrations became the focus of the rest of his clinical research projects and career." "In 1969, he accepted at the University of California at Irvine Medical School Professorship/Chairman of Neurosurgery. There, he began experimental work in hydrocephalus with emphasis on CSF molecular transport studies in dogs and cats. Twenty neurosurgeons have been trained in this program." "He has held offices in the Western Neurosurgical Society, Society of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgical Society of America and Society of Neurological Surgeons of Orange County. In 1989, he became Emeritus Professor of Neurological Surgery." One of Eldon's favorite pastimes was sailboat racing on Lake Washington and competing while a member of the Capistrano Bay Yacht Club out of Dana Point,CA where he acquired 99 trophies. He also loved to backpack and hike with his five children and family friends in the High Sierra and loved to play tennis. He was an avid photographer and documented family outings. He was an active choir member in the church and loved listening to classical music and opera. Eldon and Kay loved dancing together to 1940's swing music. Eldon and his wife, Kay traveled to many interesting places together for professional meetings. He loved to talk and had a very unique sense of humor. Eldon is survived by his one sibling, Elva Lea Clark of Allen Park, MI as well as his five children: Sally Foltz (Charles Copeland) of Chico, CA, James(Nancy) Foltz of Bothell, WA, Janis Foltz of Reno,NV, Suzanne Foltz of Laguna Beach, CA, and Patty Foltz McCarty(Michael)of Lake Elsinore, CA. He is also survived by his 5 grandchildren and one great grandchild, Jeremy Foltz, of Shoreline, WA, Katie Foltz,(Josh) of Lynwood,WA, Jocelyn Lybarger of Beaverton, OR , Jessica McCarty, Sean McCarty of Lake Elsinore and Josie Buirge of Lynwood, WA. The Neighborhood Congregational Church is accepting any contributions for the placement of a fountain in the community garden courtyard of the church in Dr. Eldon and Kay Foltz's names. Family will be announcing time and place of a celebration of life for Eldon Foltz at a later date. He will remain in our hearts always as a wonderful loving father and friend.