Ronald William Foster was born July 25, 1940 and peacefully passed away, Tuesday, September 5, with his wife of 62 years by his side.

Ron was the best husband, brother, father, father-in-law, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, cousin and friend anyone could ever wish for.  He attended Pepperdine Elementary School, Reed Jr. High, and Central High School.  He attended Drury College with 2080 hours of law enforcement training in various areas..   He was certified as a Police Instructor from the Missouri Department of Public Safety in various areas, with the Missouri Sheriffs' Training Academy.

He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, The American Legion, and served in the United Sates Army receiving an honorable discharge on December 31, 1965.

In 1967, Ron joined the Springfield Police Department, assigned to the patrol and traffic divisions.  He was a respected Springfield officer for four  years, receiving the Springfield's Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer Award presented by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce in 1968.  .

In 1971,  Ron joined the Federal Justice System as a Deputy United States Marshal.  He was initially assigned to the Kansas City Missouri office for four years involved with the air piracy program.  He was responsible for preventing hijacking and enforcing federal laws as well as the other duties  involving court and witness security, prisoner transportation, fugitive investigation, service of criminal and civil process, enforcement of court orders issued by federal judges, and by the Attorney General of the United States.  He spent ten years as a member of the U.S. Marshals Service Special Operations Unit (federal S.W.A.T. team)

Always giving his best, Ron received three Marshal Service special achievement awards, besides the Marshals Service top honor., the prestigious  ROBERT FORSYTH AWARD for valor as a result of being wounded during the arrest of one of the Marshals Service Top 15 fugitives.

After attending Dr. Kenneth Cooper's Aerobic Fitness Center in Dallas, Texas, Ron was certified as a physical Fitness Coordinator.  He administered the physical fitness program of the U.S. Marshals Service to the employees in the Western District of Missouri.

Following his retirement, Ron became a Law Enforcement Consultant for the Ameritel Inmate Phone Company where he assisted sheriffs' departments in MO, KS, and AR with the investigations of escaped prisoners.  He was the training coordinator for the Missouri-Kansas, Jail Officers' Training Task Force, providing low-cost training to law enforcement agencies..

Ron's brother, Mike, pre-deceased him. Ron leaves behind his wife, Connie, two sons, Patrick and Randy, (Amy) granddaughter, Erin, (Josh) grandson Kyle, (Taylor) and great-grandchildren, Brayden, Ava, and Daxton.  He leaves his sister, Kay (Richard), sisters-in-law, Jane and Jeanie, nieces, Wendy, Amy, Courtney, Whitney, and Samantha, and their children.   Our hearts are filled with wonderful memories and thankfulness for the love of one of the best.  He dearly loved his friends, especially Troy, Ray, and Sam and his life-long buddy,Jerry. along with probably a million, or so, others.  He will be very missed by his canine friends.

Our family would like to thank Terrace Hospice staff for their help in caring for Ron the last two months.   Ron always looked forward to seeing his girls, special nurses Jessica, and Kelly, aide, Ashley, and volunteer, Sandy.

Ron truly was the best, and our lives will never be the same without him.  You are invited to honor him by joining his family with a Celebration of Life, at First and Calvary Church, 820 E Cherry St., Tuesday, September 12 at 11:00.  There will be a reception following the service.  If you wish to make a donation in his honor, Ron would have liked it to go to Tunnels to Towers, or any other law enforcement organization that helps those who have served to keep our country safe.