John Henry Fostel

District Judge John H. Fostel, 69, died in a Fort Worth hospital Friday night.  Memorial service will be Wednesday, June 7 at 10:00 AM at Decatur Civic Center.  Family visitation will be Tuesday, June 6, from 6-7 PM at Jones Family Funeral Home in Decatur.

Judge Fostel, who lived in Lake Bridgeport, had been judge of the 271st Judicial District that covers Wise and Jack Counties since 1995. He was a graduate of Irving High School, Texas Christian University, and received his law degree from Texas Tech University. He came to Wise County following graduation from law school to the law firm of W.B. Woodruff in Decatur. John later became a partner in the law firm of Woodruff, Fostel, Wren and Simpson. Judge Fostel previously served on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas. In 2014, the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association (TCTLA) named Judge Fostel the recipient of the Charles J. Murray Outstanding Jurist Award. He was the only non-Tarrant county judge to receive this honor. John took on leadership roles in numerous youth sports and civic organizations. John loved his family and cherished his time spent with them. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kate Fostel; brother, Mike Fostel; niece, Paige Fostel.

Judge Fostel is survived by wife, Cathy Fostel of Lake Bridgeport; sons, Chris Fostel and wife Gabby of Odessa, Josh Fostel and wife Katey of Eula, Justin Cortez of Chico; daughter, Meagan Hood and husband AJ of Decatur; grandchildren, Karli Fostel, Eden Fostel, Wyatt Fostel, Layla Fostel, Laney Fostel, Jordy Fostel, and Emma Hood; sister-in-law, Martha Fostel; nephews, Brett Fostel and wife Cynthia, Clay Fostel and wife Lauren; and a host of other extended family and friends.

Family requests memorials be made to Decatur Cares, PO Box 1084, Decatur, TX 76234 or First United Methodist Church Food Pantry, 608 17th St., Bridgeport, TX 76426.