He was born in Mocksville, the son of Joe Foster and Jean Phillips Koontz. He graduated high school in Lumberton, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Francis Marion University. He was an active member of the South Carolina Nation Guard having served tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Panama, Korea, and Operation Desert Storm. He had worked for Lowes of Florence, K Mart, and was the former Sexton at Central United Methodist Church in Florence. He enjoyed reading and spent many hours at the library and he was instrumental in 18 and Younger Teen Center in Florence.

Funeral Services were held Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 2 PM at Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home Chapel. Burial, with full military honors, was at the Florence National Cemetery directed by Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home. The family received friends Monday at the funeral home and at all other times at his residence.

Surviving in addition to his parents of Florence: 3 brothers, Terry Koontz and wife Marla of Darlington, Michael Koontz and wife Linda of Darlington, Roger Koontz of Florence; a sister Sharon Poole and husband William of Florence; his nieces and nephews, Heather, Brittany, Rebecca, Courtney, Seth, Skylar, Lance, Blake, and Ty.

Memorials: Darlington County Library System by donating a book in his memory.