James Edwin Foster

WYLIE & FORT WORTH - James Edwin "Jim" Foster IV answered many calls in his life and finally got the call to his heavenly home at age 73 on Thursday, April 18 after an 8-year battle with cancer.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. April 27, 2024 at his beloved Gateway Community Church in Wylie, TX. A burial service will be held at a later date in his family's plot at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth.
Jim is survived by his wife of 22 years, Linda Wills Foster; children, James Edwin "Win" Foster V, Jocelyn Foster Tatum, and Lauren Blake Foster, Matthew Charles Johnson and his wife Misty Joe Johnson; and grandchildren, Joseph Randall Johnson, Ethan Matthew Johnson, James Earl "Jet" Tatum IV; and his beloved brother John Thomas "Tommy" Foster.
Jim was born on November 19, 1950 in Fort Worth, Texas to parents, Nell Yvonne Wood and James Edwin Foster III. He grew up with his brother Tommy near their family ranch just 10 miles from downtown in southwest Fort Worth. Jim was born into a historic Fort Worth family that developed everything from South Hills to Westcliff all the way to Hulen just north of 1-20, but the underpinnings of high society and money never captured his heart the way the ocean and his loved ones did. Adventure, kindness, curiosity, and unconditional love were his legacy.
As a member of its second graduating class, Jim graduated class of 1968 from Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth. He started a Beatles cover band in 1965 playing the guitar, a hobby he would engage throughout his life, later playing for a worship team at one of the churches he attended.
He earned a bachelor's in business administration from Southern Methodist University and a master's in business administration focused in finance and financial management services from Texas Christian University M.J. Neeley School of Business, 1974.
Jim started his career as a banker at First Continental Bank and then worked in healthcare consulting, health insurance, and strategic planning later in life. While in banking, he volunteered for organizations and served on several boards, won Fort Worth Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1971 when 21 years old. About that same time, he worked with Toastmasters in Fort Worth to overcome his fear of public speaking. Before long he was the president of the Fort Worth chapter, and later, the Texas chapter. This would be a theme throughout his life - to give back to others what was gifted to him. In Wylie, he volunteered in countless ways for his church, Gateway Community Church. He retired as director of managed care at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.
A lifelong adventurer and learner, he loved the ocean, spending much of his youth scuba diving around the world. This earned him a spot as an executive producer and videographer for ESPN's Scuba World in the early 1980s. He learned to sail as a boy, earning his captain's license in his 30s so he could navigate boats on oceans and seas around the world. In his 40s he became a sailing instructor on the weekends. This allowed him more time on boats and the ability to share his love for the wind and water with others. At one point he learned how to navigate boats by the stars, which challenged the dependence on the modern GPS systems. He was always captivated by the stars, playing with an app that allowed him to frame the constellations through an iPhone lens until the week he passed.
When Jim was diagnosed with cancer, he looked for help and answers and leaned on his faith. His friends and family admired that he didn't pretend he could do it alone. People in the cancer and medical community answered his call and poured into him. Even when he felt very sick, he gave back what was given to him and brought those resources to his later-in-life community in Wylie. Those with cancer would have a local resource and didn't have to travel to Dallas and Plano for help like he did if they didn't want to. Jim formed a monthly discussion-based cancer recovery group at his church. He pulled material together from different cancer support ministries creating a sort of lesson plan for them to connect over. They would see Jim in his cancer struggles and witnessed his continual perseverance. One close friend and pastor said Jim's faith inspired and carried others into a more hopeful place.
Jim also found comfort in Reel Recovery, a support group for men fighting cancer together through fly fishing adventures. His wish is that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the groups that helped him keep his light shining through the pain - Gateway Community Church and Reel Recovery.
His gentle heart, subtle humor, and child-like wonder and approach to life will be missed forever.