Richard Wynn Foster

Richard Wynn Foster, passed away on Monday, November 8, 2021. He was born in Dayton, Ohio on November 22, 1942 to the late Richard Brasfield & Bernice (Wynn) Foster. He is survived by his loving sister, Beverly F. Williams-Polzin & husband Dale G. Polzin, brother William G. Foster & wife Marilyn of Aurora, CO and brother Allen J Foster & wife Jeanne of Sidney, Maine & many nieces, nephews & numerous other relatives.

He graduated from Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, in 1961, Dartmouth College in 1965 and received his JD from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1968. Upon graduation he worked for the Tennessee Legislature in Nashville, and later became a staff attorney with the Memphis & Shelby County Legal Services. In 1973 he relocated to Memphis to start his private practice of 20 years while devoting time as an independent outside counsel with a local law firm. During this time he was co-owner and manager of the Andes Trading Company, which sold high-quality hand-made tapestries and weavings from the Andes. In his retirement years, Dick moved back to Dayton, Ohio where he provided full-time personal elder care for his parents until their deaths. After that, he moved to Colorado for a few years where he worked for a non-profit family coalition organization and helped raise funds for non-profit corporations. He relocated back to Tennessee and worked as a private law consultant for the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, TN where he specialized in representing abused and neglected minor children in Memphis Juvenile Court. He also was a Pro Bono Attorney for the Memphis Area Legal Services. His final move was to live with his sister in Fayetteville, Georgia and it was during this time he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

He derived personal pleasure from international travel, especially trekking and hiking trips throughout South America, Europe, Asia, Nepal and India. He also enjoyed swimming, fitness and weight training and was a NASM Certified Personal Physical Trainer. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing rugby and restoring old buildings. He was proficient in Spanish and French, was a member of several language Meetup Groups and was certified to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL). He was a member of many organizations including the Memphis Heritage Inc., the Old Boys Rugby Club, the Sierra Club, and the Isaac Shelby Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, his intelligent mind, and his impressive ability to recall random factoids at just the right time.

A private memorial service celebrating his life will be held at a future date. The family suggests donations in his memory be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation michaeljfox.org > donate, or Call: 1-800-708-7644 or by Mail: The Michael J. Fox Foundation P.O. Box 5014. Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.