Obituary of Chester Allan Foat

On Saturday, February 25th, 2023, Chester Allan Foat, loving husband, father, step-father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away at the age of 90.

He is survived by his wife, Denise Shumaker Foat, daughter Ona Foster, son Darin Foat, step-daughters Carol Shumaker Hansen (married to Eric Hansen) and Jackie Shumaker (married to Mary Harper), three grandchildren, Allie Hansen Byrne (married to Logan Byrne), Samantha Hansen Arndt (married to Robin Arndt) and Andrew Hansen and two great- granddaughters, Andie and Dylan Byrne.

Chet was born on May 24, 1932 in Waukesha, Wisconsin to Elizabeth and Oscar Foat and was the youngest of their 10 children.

As a young man Chester learned to hunt and fish from his older brothers Hank and Reibert, and retained a passion for the outdoors for the rest of his life.

He dropped out of high school in his senior year to help support his mother. He found work operating heavy machinery in a rock quarry, which served him well when he joined the United States Army at age 20. He was assigned to an engineering battalion attached to the Eighth Infantry, and spent two years in Korea, building roads and fortifications. After the war, he returned to Wisconsin, and completed his diploma at Waukesha High School.

In 1955 he joined his brother Ace in Manhattan Beach, California where both worked for Douglas Aviation. The brothers then moved to Colorado to work for Glenn L. Martin Aviation, where, without the benefit of a college degree, Chet became a draftsman, and eventually an aerospace engineer. When Glenn L. Martin became Martin Marietta Chet was the third employee to be issued a company ID, and proudly wore employee number 00003, which he would often refer to, with a twinkle in his eye, as “four-balls three”. He remained at Martin Marietta for the rest of his career, contributing to several major projects, most notably the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) and the Titan Launch Vehicle. He was most proud of the Titan, which launched numerous satellites and spacecraft, including Voyager 2, the first man-made object to leave the solar system.

After settling in Colorado Chet met a young school teacher named Marilyn Anderbery, who became his first wife in 1961. They bought their first home in Lakewood, Colorado and were eventually blessed with two children, Ona in 1967, and Darin in 1969.

Chet was a skilled handyman, who could often be found tinkering in his workshop, repairing the family’s many cars, and constantly updating their home. With Chet behind the wheel of their trusty camper, the family traveled often to visit family, and to camp and fish in the Rocky Mountains.

In 1991 Marilyn passed away following a long illness. Two years later Chet reconnected with an old flame, Denise (Nash) Shumaker, and they married in 1998. They settled in Parker, Colorado and enjoyed many years traveling, entertaining guests, and helping to raise their grandchildren, when Chet wasn’t patrolling the neighborhood in his golf cart. They remained happily married until his passing.

 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 3:00 PM.

Location:

Joy Lutheran Church

7051 Parker Hills Ct.

Parker, CO 80138

Fellowship reception will follow

Live streaming available

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Family Compass (Click Here)