in loving memory of Charles D. Foran

Nov 21, 1927 – Jan 10, 2022

“TAd” foran

a true renaissaince man

The Man

“You make known to me the path of life; in your
presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand
are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

Most know my dad as “Tad” Foran, or as “Poppy” within the family (3 kids, 7 grandkids, and 16 1/2 great-grandkids). Many times I have referred to him as the “Renaissance Man” because of his many interests, skills, knowledge, global travels, and accomplishments. All who know him well, and there are lots, know exactly what I’m talking about.
Dad turned 94 in November and lived on this earth for 34,360 days. The Lord says in Psalm 139: 16 “Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.” (NET). Dad lived life with intentionality and faithfulness and enters heaven as a “good and faithful servant” and made the most of those ordained days.
I always laugh when I think of him reciting his “I envy no man…” speech. Over the past couple of years, I along with all his family and friends could probably “sing along with me” and recite it word for word. Ok, let’s do it (I know you can…LOL)!… “I envy no man. I don’t have a bucket list. I’ve done everything I ever wanted to do. Well, except for visiting Petra. I have flown supersonic, been to the top of the Great Pyramids, flew the Atlantic 28 times in a KC-97, rode the full-length of the Trans-Siberian railroad from Moscow to Vladivostok, walked the Great Wall of China, saw the Terracotta Warriors, rode my motorcycle with Peggy all the way from Glasgow Scotland to the furthest north tip to John O’Grotes, went 6700 miles on a motorcycle trip with Dave, made friends with an African Maasai warrior, and survived Covid at 93.” (or some variation thereof).
Most recently he would say, “just put on my gravestone ‘I had fun’.” And I would reply, “No, Dad, that’s not going to happen”. Then I would challenge him and state that while I acknowledge he had an amazing life and did a zillion more things than most the rest of us, I know that’s not what he really knows matters. Instead, I would start listing all of the people he has impacted, starting with me.
It was my greatest joy to then spend time with him talking about who he impacted far and wide… family, personal friends, business friends, church friends, prisoners who he visited and invested in over the past 30 years, missionaries, pastors, elders, kids and adults alike as he performed as a docent at the Love Field Frontiers Flight Museum, hundreds of people he gave plane rides to over his 60+ years as a pilot, fellow WWII Marines, sailors, and airmen he served and flew with over a nearly 30-year military career from his rank of Private to Lt. Col., business partners, employees, fellow volunteers of Boy Scouts and many other non-profits, to all the people for the past 47 years he and Mom let live upstairs in their home who needed a place to live while in transition, and finally to many of you.
Dad loved America… God & Country. He was a true American Patriot. He was an American hero and he will always be my hero.
Dad valued honesty, integrity, faithfulness, commitment, trustworthiness, friendship, and adventure. He loved the Lord Jesus and desired to be a good and faithful servant.
Every night, around 5:30, we would enjoy a glass of Glenlivet or a Bombal Sapphire martini and talk about life, politics, flying, or whatever. It didn’t matter as long as it was with Dad.
To me, the greatest thing of all… he was my best friend! I love you Dad more than words could ever express and will miss you beyond measure. But, I know you are in heaven and are awaiting our reunion when my last numbered day is fulfilled. 

This website is dedicated to you Dad from your loving son, Dave

I send you off with your favorite poem “High Flight” by John Magee Jr…

Tad’s Favorite Poem

High Flight

“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings. Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung. High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there I’ve chased the shouting winds along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark nor ever eagle flew – And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.”

Wonderful Videos

get to know tad foran

What A Day to Remember

Tad’s Celebration Service…

The Foran family (or, the “Foran Tribe” as he liked to call us) would like to thank all of the many friends who were able to attend the service and celebrate the amazing life of Tad Foran with all of us. But, there were numerous others who really wanted to attend in person but due to travel plans, health, and other life issues could not attend in person.

It would be our greatest honor knowing you were able to watch the video of the service. Tad would love for us to share it with you. We hope it inspires and warms your heart.

Blessings to All!

The Foran Family

Date: Saturday, Feb 19, 2022

Time: Memorial Service 10:00 am  

Place: Restland Funeral Home & Cemetery

On-Site Location: Memorial Chapel

 *Full military honors to honor Lt. Col. Charles D. Foran

Restland Obituary (click)

Flowers or Charity Info (click)

Tad’s Tale – The Life Story of Tad Foran

A book that tells it all!

 Anybody that knows Tad, knows that he had an amazing life and could fill a whole book with his stories… so he did!

One evening during “martini time”, Tad was telling (or re-telling, not sure which?) yet another one of his many interesting stories. Vicki, his daughter-in-law said to him, “Poppy, you need to put all of these stories into a book!”. Of course he replied, “I don’t think anyone would want to hear my boring ‘ol stories.” Vicki persisted and encouraged him to begin writing his book that next day, And, so he did.

It is pretty much a guarantee that you will not only want to read his book, but you will likely be as captivated as the rest of us and recommend it to others. It really is quite remarkable. 

The first part is made up of 7 chapters going through his life in chronological order. The second part is a series of 72 vignettes of “Tad’s Tales” as he wrote them down over a 6 year period. It starts like this…

1. RUMINATIONS
January 2016
I’ve just turned 88 years old and am just going to write down stuff I think about without worrying if it makes sense or is interesting to anyone. I’ve tried to write a coherent account of my life because Vicki Foran asked me to write stuff down about my life’s adventures, which have been numerous. I have had more fun and done a lot of interesting stuff, more than the “average bear” for sure. Looking back, life is full of what I call “snap shots” of things that have happened. Dr. Ben Carson says that everything you’ve ever seen or heard is stored in your brain and that its capacity is almost beyond measuring. The issue is recalling what’s in there. I think…

 

Read it Online

“acetad”

He loved to fly his WWII trainer, a T-6 Texan, and take people for rides