William Joseph Foltman

Honorable William J Foltman, 96, passed away peacefully on Monday October 26, 2026 at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center. He was born on June 2, 1930 to the late Bronislaw and Anna Rackowski Foltman and raised in Amsterdam, NY. He had 13 brothers and sisters who have all passed before him. After graduating from Wilbur Lynch High School in Amsterdam, he joined the US Navy. He was first stationed in Port Hueneme, California in the "Sea Bees" 104th Construction Battalion and then based at Coronado, CA. He was honorably discharged in 1950.

William entered the GE apprentice program in Schenectady, and worked in the Gas Turbine division. After several years, he was transferred to the Knolls Atomic Power Lab in Niskayuna and became a senior designer working on the design of nuclear propulsion ships for the Federal government. He retired after 45 years of service. William served as the Princetown Town Justice for 21 years. He was a member and served as president of The Knights of Saint John in Schenectady, and was also a member for several years at the Rotterdam Elks.

William met and married the absolute love of his life Lois Elaine Thompson on September 5, 1952. They were married for 68 years, before her passing in 2020. Together they had 4 children: James Foltman of Duanesburg, Christoper (Zalema) Foltman of Delanson, Lynn (Jonathan) deForest of Princetown, and Judith (James) Hale of Scotia. He also has 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

A calling hour will be held on Monday November 2nd from 9:30 to 10:30am at the DeMarco Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Ave, Rotterdam. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11am at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carmen Rd, Schenectady. He will then be interred with military honors next to his beloved wife at Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Montgomery County ASPCA, 1232- NY 5S, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Condolences can be posted at demarcostonefuneralhome.com.