William Jefferson Foster 1 2
- Born: 22 Mar 1926, Wauneta, Chautauqua County , Kansas 1
- Marriage: Ester Lucille Hobart on 7 Nov 1947 1
- Died: 19 May 2004, Independence -Mercy Hospital, , Kansas at age 78 1
- Buried: Grenola -Greenlawn Cemetery, , Kansas 1
 Details of his life include:
Military: World War II. 1
His obituary was published in the William J. Foster on 26 May 2004 in Sedan, Chautauqua County, Kansas. Sedan Times-Star - May 26, 2004
MR. WILLIAM J. FOSTER
INDEPENDENCE, KAN. - William J. Foster passed away on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kan. He was 78 years of age and a long time resident of Independence. He was born on March 22, 1926 near Wauneta, Kan. To Robert Lee and LaVerna Opal (Greathouse) Foster. He grew up on the family farm and attended Chautauqua County rural schools.
After graduating from Sedan High School in 1943, he joined the United States Army in September of 1944 and served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He served in the I Company of the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division on the islands of Siapan, Okinawa, Cebu, Philippines and Iwo Jima. He attained the rank of staff sergeant with the 85th Signal Battalion, Company A.
On Nov. 7, 1947, he married Esther Lucile Hobart at Kingman, Kan. And to this union was born a daughter, Marla, and a son, Thaine. He was employed by Southwestern Bell and in 1950, the family located to Arkansas City before moving to Independence in 1960. During the 1970's, they lived several years at Yates Center before returning to Independence in 1979. He retired in 1983 after more than 36 years with Southwestern Bell, but continued his interest in horses and raising cattle.
He was a member of the Grace Memorial United Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all at Independence. He served on the School Board of District #40 and the board of Rural Water District #2. He also served on the board of directors of the Nowata Country Jubilee in Nowata, Okla.
He is survived by his wife, Esther, Independence, Kan.; his daughter, Maria Foster Ware, Moline, Kan.; his son, Thaine Foster, Topeka, Kan.; his brothers, Richard, Lakewood, Colo., David, Tulsa, Okla., Dan, Winfield, Kan. And Don, Mountain Home, Ida.; his sisters, Nina Donohue and Sally Birkie, both of Winfield, Kan., Mary Clark, Tulsa, Okla., Nancy Blair, Rose, Okla., Lucy Bennett, Gladstone, Mo., Carol Shull, Sedan, Kan. And Mickey Armbrister, Ellis, Kan. And one granddaughter, Amanda Foster, Topeka, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, LeOpal Royalty.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. On Saturday, May 22, 2004, at the Zimmerman Funeral Home in Howard, with Pastor Robin Haines of the Flint Hills Assembly of God in Howard officiating. Military services and interment was conducted by Carter-Rader American Legion Post #149 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Grenola.
Memorials have been established with the Grace Memorial United Methodist Church and Animals With Our Love (AWOL), both of Independence. Contributions may be left with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard. 1
William married Ester Lucille Hobart on 7 Nov 1947.1
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