The Foreign Service Journal, April 2013

the Foreign Service journal | april 2013 67 ferred to Tokyo as assistant cultural affairs officer. He returned to Indonesia in 1968 as cultural attaché to work with faculty and staff of all 30 universities in the country. In 1973, Mr. Underwood became the cultural affairs officer in Japan. He worked with visiting U.S. diplomats and such prominent Americans as Zbigniew Brzezinski, James Michener and Walter Cronkite. In 1978, he was posted to the South Pacific to evaluate the status of Papua, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and other developing nations. Mr. Underwood later served as acting U.S. ambassador to several countries in the South Pacific. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1981 and returned with his wife, Jean, to North Wilkesboro. There he assumed the position of editor of The Journal-Patriot newspaper, serving until 1991. In 1995, Mr. Underwood began writing the history of Wilkesboro. It is a detailed account, covering the arrival of settlers through the present day. Numer- ous residents and former residents assisted with the project, which is near completion and will be published post- humously. Friends and family members remem- ber Mr. Undeland for his many positive qualities. He was a very concerned and effective public citizen, giving time and energy to a variety of causes, including the library, Kiwanis, the town of Wilkes- boro and the Wilkes Art Gallery. He was an accomplished photographer, a tal- ented painter, a good cook and a lover of fine art, music and drama. His intellect, sense of humor and social consciousness will be missed. Mr. Underwood is survived by his wife, Jean Craig Ohlund Underwood, of North Wilkesboro. Memorial contributions can be made