Larry Foster, city manager of Buena Vista from 1982 to 1988, died Thursday, Oct. 30, in Williamsburg, where he had lived for the past 37 years.

Foster helped direct Buena Vista’s response to the Nov. 5, 1985 Election Day flood. In the early morning hours of that fateful day, he was very involved in the process of relocating the polls from the Municipal Building to Parry McCluer Middle School. In the aftermath of the flood, he kept the city government running and initiated efforts to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to secure flood protection for the city, which was achieved after Foster’s tenure in Buena Vista.

Shortly before his departure to Williamsburg in 1988 to begin his new job as assistant administrator of James City County, Foster was named the Buena Visa Lions Club Citizen of the Year. In presenting the award to Foster, Roger Groot cited his work following the Flood of ’85 and his work in starting the Community Share Project food pantry, the Community Challenge Campaign to renovate the city’s old courthouse and library facilities and initiating the Downtown Area Revitalization Effort.

A graduate of Appalachian State University, Foster worked as city manager of South Boston and town manager of Halifax prior to coming to Buena Vista. After leaving Buena Vista, he worked for James City County for the next 26 years – the last 24 years as general manager of the James City Service Authority, from which he retired in 2013.

He stayed active in the Williamsburg/ James City County community for the rest of his life. He volunteered for the House of Mercy, First Tee, as a tax preparer, and helped maintain the gardens at Hospice House. In recent years he has served as a project manager, overseeing the construction of the new campus of Child Development Resources. He was a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, where he assisted with the church’s homeless shelter program. He served previously on boards of the Williamsburg United Way, Salvation Army, Williamsburg Landing, WATA and Village Bank.

He is survived by his wife, Lee Johnston Foster; a daughter, Anne Lee; a son Johnston; three grandsons; and six siblings, Jerry, Vergil, Sharon, Karen, Sarah and Logan.

A celebration of life service was held Nov. 7 at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. Memorial donations may be made to The Arc of Greater Williamsburg.