John D. Foulds, 78, Pepsi executive

John Derek Foulds of Ridgefield, a former executive with the Pepsi-Cola Company, died on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004, at Danbury Hospital. He was 78 years old and husband of Rinette Alexandrine Foulds.

Mr. Foulds was born in Peterborough, England, on Jan. 19, 1926, the son of  Arthur and Elsie Foulds. He was educated in Peterborough and served in the British Navy during the Second World War.

In 1950, after completing an engineering apprenticeship at the Peterbrotherhood company, Mr. Foulds was employed by the Pepsi-Cola Bottler in New South Wales, Australia. In 1953 he joined Pepsi-Cola International, responsible for opening new bottling plants in Far East Asia. He and his family lived in Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines.

In 1973 Mr. Foulds was transferred to the PepsiCo World Headquarters in Purchase, N.Y., where he was the director of engineering for Pepsi-Cola International. He retired in 1990 after serving 40 years with the company.

Mr. Foulds and his wife moved to Ridgefield in 1973. He was active in the Mens Club and enjoyed playing golf with his friends. He also loved his house and garden, spending countless hours enjoying them.

“John was also known to tell a good joke or two and was the life of a party,” his family said.

Besides his wife of 54 years, Mr. Foulds is survived by two sons, Peter and his wife Kate of Louisville, Ky., and David and his wife Casey of Brookfield; and five grandchildren, Jonathan, Hale, Michael, Austin and Brittany.

A private memorial service for family and friends will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23.

In his memory, contributions may be made to the Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut Inc. 405 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.