Joe Howard Foster, 94, died peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, at his home in Brookhaven. He was born July 11, 1922, in Brookhaven to William Joe Foster and Lessie Guess Foster.

He served in the United States Air Force during World War II in Europe. After the war, he graduated from Mississippi State University and was employed with Bell Telephone Systems in management until retirement in 1984. He enjoyed salt water fishing, building a fire every morning in his fireplace, his dachshunds, and was known for his generosity to family and others.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Eunice Purvis Foster; wife, Katherine Holmes Foster; and sister, Elaine Foster Dunlap.

Survivors are children, Regina Foster Derstein and husband Todd of Puckett, and Roy Purvis Foster and wife Debbie of Hattiesburg; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.