Obituary for Charles Foster
Mr. Charles G. Foster, 98 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., went home to be with his Lord surrounded by his family on Friday, December 6, 2019.
He was born May 24, 1921 in Ohio, Mo. a son of Walter Levi and Nelle Jamison (Higgins) Foster. He was married on August 3, 1947 in Hartshorn, Mo. to Virginia Faye Cloninger who preceded him in death on October 30, 2006.
Charles was a 1939 graduate of Weaubleau High School in Weaubleau, Mo., a 1951 graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., and received his Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri in 1956. He lettered in basketball all four years in high school and played basketball two years at Missouri State, where he was also a member of the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity.
He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II from May 14, 1942 to November 24, 1945. For his service, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, a Victory Ribbon, three Bronze Battle Stars, five Overseas Bars, and five Overseas Hashmarks.
Charles began his career as a high school teacher (1946-1956) in Weaubleau, Eldorado Springs, and Clinton, Mo. He accepted a job in Jefferson City with the Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (1956-1982) and worked his way up to Director of Pupil Personnel Services. He then went to work as an educator with the University of Missouri (1982-1988), trained DARE officers at the Missouri State High Patrol (1989-2001) and the Missouri Police Chiefs Association (2001 until his retirement in 2010).
A resident of Jefferson City since 1956, Charles was an active member of the First Baptist Church and currently served as Deacon Emeritus. He was active in the church’s Stephen Ministry, served as a Sunday School teacher, and a church Trustee. He was also a member of the Missouri State Teachers Assn., the Missouri Guidance Assn., the American Personnel and Guidance Assn., the American Vocational Assn., the Missouri Retired Teachers Assn., the Cole County Retired Teachers Assn., and the AARP.
He was an avid quail hunter, trout and float fisherman and enjoyed working crossword puzzles. He always planned one week each summer at Montauk State Park with family and friends. He spent time in all fifty states but always preferred Missouri. He authored a book about his life for his sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His church, his God and his family were the delight of his life.
Survivors include son, Gene D. Foster (Teresa) of Jefferson City; daughter-in-law, Karla Foster of Jefferson City; brothers, Robert Foster (Irma) of Maryland Heights and Paul Foster of Independence; sisters, Dorothy Pulliam of Corpus Christi, TX, Betty Honey of St. Charles, and Maxine Wood of Versailles; six grandchildren, Stephanie Duke, Mandee Carney, Tyler Foster, Wade Foster, Kristen Foster, and Jenna Foster; and six great-grandchildren, Landon Carney, Garrett Carney, Aubrey Foster, Hayden Carney, Carson Foster, and Davis Duke.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, Virginia; and son, James Foster.
Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St. from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at First Baptist Church with the Reverend Dr. Doyle Sager officiating. Graveside services and interment with military honors will be conducted at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
He was born May 24, 1921 in Ohio, Mo. a son of Walter Levi and Nelle Jamison (Higgins) Foster. He was married on August 3, 1947 in Hartshorn, Mo. to Virginia Faye Cloninger who preceded him in death on October 30, 2006.
Charles was a 1939 graduate of Weaubleau High School in Weaubleau, Mo., a 1951 graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., and received his Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri in 1956. He lettered in basketball all four years in high school and played basketball two years at Missouri State, where he was also a member of the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity.
He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II from May 14, 1942 to November 24, 1945. For his service, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, a Victory Ribbon, three Bronze Battle Stars, five Overseas Bars, and five Overseas Hashmarks.
Charles began his career as a high school teacher (1946-1956) in Weaubleau, Eldorado Springs, and Clinton, Mo. He accepted a job in Jefferson City with the Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (1956-1982) and worked his way up to Director of Pupil Personnel Services. He then went to work as an educator with the University of Missouri (1982-1988), trained DARE officers at the Missouri State High Patrol (1989-2001) and the Missouri Police Chiefs Association (2001 until his retirement in 2010).
A resident of Jefferson City since 1956, Charles was an active member of the First Baptist Church and currently served as Deacon Emeritus. He was active in the church’s Stephen Ministry, served as a Sunday School teacher, and a church Trustee. He was also a member of the Missouri State Teachers Assn., the Missouri Guidance Assn., the American Personnel and Guidance Assn., the American Vocational Assn., the Missouri Retired Teachers Assn., the Cole County Retired Teachers Assn., and the AARP.
He was an avid quail hunter, trout and float fisherman and enjoyed working crossword puzzles. He always planned one week each summer at Montauk State Park with family and friends. He spent time in all fifty states but always preferred Missouri. He authored a book about his life for his sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His church, his God and his family were the delight of his life.
Survivors include son, Gene D. Foster (Teresa) of Jefferson City; daughter-in-law, Karla Foster of Jefferson City; brothers, Robert Foster (Irma) of Maryland Heights and Paul Foster of Independence; sisters, Dorothy Pulliam of Corpus Christi, TX, Betty Honey of St. Charles, and Maxine Wood of Versailles; six grandchildren, Stephanie Duke, Mandee Carney, Tyler Foster, Wade Foster, Kristen Foster, and Jenna Foster; and six great-grandchildren, Landon Carney, Garrett Carney, Aubrey Foster, Hayden Carney, Carson Foster, and Davis Duke.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, Virginia; and son, James Foster.
Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St. from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at First Baptist Church with the Reverend Dr. Doyle Sager officiating. Graveside services and interment with military honors will be conducted at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.