Former Y106 morning host David Foster dies at age 57

Dave Foster

of Y106’s Morning Zoo Crew in the 1980s, Foster brought music and entertainment to his radio listeners. Humorous and energetic, Foster had many fans. Radio was his passion.

Rhubarb Jones of Tallapoosa, a co-host with Foster at the country station, Y106, considered him "a great showman. He was creative and a good writer. The listeners loved him." A vibrant personality, Foster loved his listeners and loved entertaining. Jones called him "a true radio soldier who really enjoyed the business."

Foster died of cancer at his home in Woodstock on Saturday. He was 57. Visitation will be held at the Darby Funeral Home in Canton on from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Darby Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held at noon on Saturday, at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Woodstock. Darby Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Foster of Woodstock first began his radio career in Charlotte, N.C. and eventually led him to Y106 in Atlanta. “He had worked with some super talented people. That helped him bring so many good ideas to the table. He was just great to work with,” said Jones.

WYAY-FM became Y106 in 1984. The station was re-named Eagle 106.7 in 2000, and in 2008, the station’s country format was dropped for oldies. In 2012, WYAY-FM became an all-news station.

Atlanta was an adopted city for Foster, who was born in West Palm Beach, Fla. and grew up in Greenville, S.C. and Charlotte. Foster met his wife, Margaret “Peg” Foster of Woodstock, at the age of 16. At 22, Foster married Peg. “She was the light of his life,” said Jones. “He was very devoted to his wife.” The couple did not have any children, but together they raised several Labrador Retrievers. The couple moved to Georgia, and Foster “embraced Atlanta, and Atlanta embraced him back,” said Jones.

Foster’s fondness for radio came with a fancy for music. He was a guitar player and a natural performer, who appreciated many different musical styles. Foster supported a number of rising artists throughout his radio career.

“He was fun. He didn’t take himself too seriously. He could laugh at himself, or be the butt of the joke, or be the foil,” recalled Jones. “He was great at providing support on and off the radio. We really worked as a team.” Jones called Foster “a good egg” and “the kind of guy you would want as your next door neighbor.”

Foster also had a passion for the outdoors. “He was a sportsman and a conservationist,” said Jones. Foster made some of his dearest friends while he was traveling across the country marketing and promoting outdoors television. He held a particular affinity for archery, recalled Jones.

In addition to his wife, Foster is survived by his father and mother, William “Bill” and Jane Foster of Greenville; and his sisters, Debra Harding of Greenville and Dana Sizemore of Charlotte.