William Allen Foss

AIKEN, SC- William Allen Foss, 70, beloved husband of Martha Bisset Foss, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at his residence.William, known as Bill, was Born in Libertyville, Illinois, the son of the late William and Lois Burdick Foss. Bill was a quintessential musician, his favorite instruments being the clarinet, saxophone and flute. He deeply loved his Norwegian heritage. He loved to tell terrible jokes and puns, was a voracious reader, “a font of useless trivial knowledge” (his words), generous, kind and loving to his wife, family and friends, and loved to watch his dogs run free in the Hitchcock Woods. Bill earned a BFA in music from Illinois Wesleyan University, his MS in music from Northwestern University and pursued doctoral studies in music. He retired from the United States Army where he served as a musician for nearly 30 years. He rose to the rank of Major; was a Vietnam veteran; served with Pershing’s Own United States White House Band under the Reagan Administration; and worked with the U.S. Army Field Band at Fort Meade, Maryland and served in a variety of other capacities throughout his service. As a high school music teacher in Vermont, Bill proudly played clarinet for the Albany NY Symphony. In Aiken, he taught woodwinds and music history at USC-A; started and lead the concert band at Aiken Preparatory School; played and arranged music for First Presbyterian Church; taught private woodwind lessons, and was a loyal performer in the Aiken Concert Band, Rollins’ Christian Big Band, Trinity Methodist on the Hill of Augusta, GA, and various other bands, churches and musical groups in the CSRA. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Aiken with Pastors Brian C. Coulter and Holly Shoaf-O’Kula officiating; the family will receive friends following the service in the parlor of the church. A private inurnment with military honors will be held for family members in the columbarium garden of the church. Survivors include William’s wife, Martha; their children, Erica Greer, William Foss, Lindsey Armstrong Laseter, and David Armstrong; his sister Martha Sue Richards; and several cousins, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Family and Friends may sign the guest book in the Narthex of the church prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity. Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral home, 715 East Pine Log Rd, Aiken, SC 29803 is in charge of arrangements. The online guest book may be signed at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com   To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Allen Foss, please visit our flower store.