Foster Van Mosher – First Lieutenant, United States Army Air Corps

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From a press report: August 6, 2002:

City of Pewaukee – As a pilot in World War II, Foster “Moe” Van Mosher once told his co-pilot to take over the controls and show him that she could fly.

Dottie Bell Hines did it perfectly. And after the two pilots worked together for the remainder of the war, they fell in love and were married.

Van Mosher died on Sunday at the age of 80 and will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, along with his wife, who died in 1997.

“They had fond memories of those days,” said their daughter, Jody Kanters, of the City of Pewaukee.

Van Mosher was born and raised in Massachusetts and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He met Hines when they were assigned as pilot and co-pilot of B-26 airplanes. Hines was a member of the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots, or WASP.

“They were both proud and happy to serve their country during the war,” she said.

After the war, the couple settled in Chicago. They moved to Pewaukee in 1963 when Van Mosher accepted a job with Winchester Western Arms and Ammunition.

“This was his dream job,” Kanters said.

Van Mosher traveled throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, often gone from home for three or fours days at a time, selling guns to sports’ clubs, she said.

He was an avid sportsman who loved hunting, fishing and trapshooting. He won many awards for shooting, including the 1968 Grand National Competition in Ohio.

He also taught his wife and daughters to shoot.

One daughter has taken her skills and turned them into a career. Debbie Caravello, of Waukesha, is a law enforcement officer for the Wisconsin State Fair and the Capitol in Madison.

Van Mosher retired in 1983.

The couple also worked on their hobby farm and took care of numerous  animals, including horses, goats, chickens, dogs and cats.

“He was a faithful father and husband, we will just really miss him,” said Kanters, who took care of her father as his health failed.

Van Mosher is survived by daughters Linda (Renee) Ferron of Massachusetts, Michele Metzger of Milwaukee, Jody (James) Kanters of the City of Pewaukee, and Debbie (Tom) Caravello of Waukesha; his sister, Marilyn (Ted) Curtis of Massachusetts; five grandchildren and one niece.

Funeral services will be in Arlington, where he will receive full military honors.

An open house will be held at the Kanters’ home from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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