Foster Earl Mcgowan

Foster Earl McGowan was born in Hammond, Indiana on April 29, 1928, to Earl and Eleanor McGowan. He passed away peacefully at home with his devoted wife, Deon, and family by his side on August 9, 2024, at age 96. Foster was born in the USA but at 3 months of age he moved back to Toronto with his parents. His traveling days had begun. Foster’s early summer’s life was spent at his grandmothers Florence’s cottage on Bolger Lake in Northern Ontario where sic ‘I climbed trees and carried water up from the lake’.

He graduated from high school at 16 and immediately went to work for the Canadian National Railways as a brakeman and later as a conductor traveling from Toronto to Port Huron to Montreal. He was editor of his local union monthly newsletter and secretary treasurer. He retired from the railway after 28 years. He and, Deon moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1973 to start his second career selling Oneida flatware, gold/silver jewelry, and even diamonds on the road. He liked traveling. During his later years, he worked as a front desk manager for Motel 6, a court reporter, and an auditor all over the Southwest.

He and Deon loved to travel to Hawaii, but Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada were also favorite getaways. He was a member of LA Fitness for many years and when he stopped driving his Caddy, he scootered over to the gym even on days where the temp was over 100.

Foster is survived by his wife of 51 years, Deon; children Eric and Kathel, daughter-in law Gale, his younger brother Steven (Margaret); grandchildren Katelyn (Brian), Rebecca (James), Matthew (Kisha) , AJ (Lauren) and Robert (Meredith) Taylor and great grandchildren, Jack, Quinn, Stellaänne, and Wilder, and his very close friends Bear/Jeanne Dixon and Denny/Rose Atkinson.

The McGowan family is grateful to Hospice Care of the Low Country and especially Foster’s private nurses and caregivers for their compassion and loving care. In lieu of a memorial service, the family invites friends and loved ones to light a candle and say a prayer in Foster’s memory.