Sunday, January 7, 1945 was an exciting day in the Allen home in May Pen, Jamaica, as Vincent and Winifred welcomed their first child, Neville Foster, affectionately, called Nev. His early years were spent at the May Pen SDA School and he often spoke of the fond memories of those years, and the lasting impact of teachers, Mmes. Butler, Palmer and Vaz.
By 1959, he enrolled at Kingsway High Schol in St. Andrew, Jamaica, from which he successfully completed the GCE examinations, obtaining a scholarship to continue his education at Ardenne High School. He excelled at Ardenne, ending up as Head Boy in 1963-64.
After earning enough money to start college, he enrolled in the Pre-Engineering Program at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, in January, 1967. He transferred to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in January 1970, graduating with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in December 1977. His research examined the behavior of soils under varying conditions of pressure and exposure to water.
Neville began his career in early 1978 in Pittsburgh PA, at D'Appolonia Consulting Engineers, which later became International Technologies Corporation. He worked on a number of projects in the U.S. and Belgium. Later, he worked as Director of Quality Assurance with Canonie Engineers, as a Consultant with the World Bank, and with the U.S. Army.
In August 2015, Neville suffered a second stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side, from which he never recovered. Despite his disability, he enjoyed reflecting on the creative power and amazing grace of God, watching programs on 3 ABN.org, Hope TV.org, and Amazing Discoveries.org. After a medical procedure on Apri 15, 2021, from which he never fully recovered, and with the years of declining health, Neville passed away peacefully on Monday evening, April 19, 2021.
Neville fought a good fight medically, professionally, and spiritually. He fell asleep in the certainty of God's mercies toward him, having lived by the principles of God's kingdom out of sheer gratitude.
Rest my Dear, until Jesus returns and takes you Home.
