Thomas Maxwell “Tom” Foose, Jr., 83 of Altoona died early Friday afternoon May 7, 2021 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in 1938 in Altoona a son of the late Thomas Maxwell Foose and Mary Sue (Hopper) Foose Detrich. He wed Sheryll A. Fleck in 1964, having enjoyed 57 years of marriage.
Surviving are his wife, Sheryll; three children, daughter Rebecca A. Fuhrman, her husband Michael and their children, Austin and Zachary; son Thomas M. Foose, III, his wife Erin and their son Thomas M. Foose, IV; son Andrew S. Foose, his wife Erin and their children, Ella and Ian.
Mr. Foose was an active long-time member of Juniata United Methodist Church where he served in many areas.
Tom was a 1955 graduate of Altoona High School, a 1959 graduate of Indiana State Teachers College, and a graduate of Penn State University with a Masters degree.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving from 1963 to 1966 having attended Officer Candidate School and becoming a commissioned Naval officer. He attained the rank of LCDR and served in the reserves as Commanding Officer of Surface Division 4-10. Tom was also a Blue and Gold Officer for The Naval Academy.
He began his career with the Altoona Area School District as a teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School. He then became an Assistant Principal at D. S. Keith Junior High School, followed as the Principal at Logan Junior High School, and he then returned to and retired from, in 1997, as the Principal of D. S. Keith Junior High School.
Tom was a member of the following Masonic organizations for over 50 years: Logan Lodge #490, Free & Accepted Masons; Mountain Commandery #10, Knights Templar; Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania; Jaffa Shrine where he served as Potentate in 2001 and was a member of the Past Potentates Association. He was an active member and past president of the Jaffa Drum & Bugle Corps and served as the Mid-Atlantic Shrine Association Drum & Bugle Corps president. He served for ten years on the Board of Governors at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Erie where he served as Chairman of the Board in 2010. He was a member and past director in 1988 of Altoona Court #70, Royal Order of Jesters. He was a member of the Colotic Miztli #91, Order of Quetzalcoatl.
Tom served on the Board and was a past president of the Altoona Area School District Foundation.
He was a proud and avid Penn State football fan where he was a season ticket holder for 48 years and maintained a Penn State room in his home. He was also a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and enjoyed baseball and hockey.
Tom was a member of the Park Hills Golf Club and he enjoyed playing golf whenever and wherever he could play. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and he enjoyed traveling to and spending the winter months in Florida and reading books on WWII.
A private viewing and Masonic funeral service followed by a private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Juniata United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Julia Piper officiating, and where full military honors will be accorded.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations please be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, in care of Jaffa Shrine, PO Box 1984, Altoona, PA 16603-1984; or to Juniata United Methodist Church, 808 North Fourth Street, Altoona, PA 16601; or to the Altoona Area School District Foundation, 1415 Sixth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602.
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