Dad Tubing on Greers Ferry Lake, Heber Springs, AR

This online memorial was created in loving memory of Ronald Foster, whose life story is told throughout this memorial website.

Please look at the pictures, and please sign the guestbook!

In Memory of Ronald John Foster born In Wichita Falls, TX, June 2, 1949.  Passed into heaven on October 5, 2007 at the age of 58 Years.  

Services at Christ The King Lutheran Church, 5296 Park Avenue Memphis, TN 38119, Monday, October 8, 2007 at 10:00 A.M.

Clergymen Officiating Pastor Chuck Neugebauer and Pastor Mark Goble.

Proceeded into Heaven by father, William Alex Foster.

Survived By Wife, Bonnie Mae Pihlstrom Foster; Daughter, Sarah Mae Foster; Son, Brian Foster; Son, Eric Kankaala; Son, Justin Kankaala; Daughter-in-law, Jillian Foster; Grandaughter, Brynn Foster, Addison Foster; Mother, Mildred Prentiss; Brothers, Tommy Foster, Bobby Foster, Billy Foster.

Interment on October 12, 2007 with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.  

Please sign Ron's guest book and let us know you care and came to visit.

We will remember Ron, son, husband, friend, and daddy forever.  We will never forget...

Daddy is saying that he made it!

Ron was 58 year young. He was a Veteran and served in the Army for 3 tours in Vietnam. Ron was a Texan at heart. He loved jet skiing, boating, baseball, softball, camping, Elvis, folk music, a nice ice-cold coke, westerns, his toolbox and tool room, his woofers and surround sound, his Church, his God, and his family. Ron worked at FedEx for 17 years. First, he was a hub-ite for a year before he got his job as an aircraft mechanic. He was planning on going back to work in couple of weeks - as soon as he got out of the hospital. He was a proud democrat and he loved his country. And some day he was going to give Bush a piece of his mind… and he was embarrassed that Bush came from Texas

Bonnie and Ron were looking forward to retiring in a few years. They had so many things they wanted to do. They talked about moving to Texas or Minnesota or going back and forth between the two states. They wanted to travel, boat, jet ski, ride horses, camp, and have the honeymoon they never had. Bonnie remembers Ron as a loving man who was always kind and supportive. She said he was her best friend. Ron was my counselor and guide, he was my handsome knight in shining armor. Ron used to call our family the “three musketeers,” and we were. We played, laughed, and cried together. We were a team----we were an awesome team.

Brian will never forget the time Jill and him bought and built their very first home. We always joked about Ron being the new Tim the Toolman Taylor. For example, helping me install a dimmer in my bedroom. Dad and I forgot the most important part…to turn off the electricity first. Needless to say, we electrocuted ourselves and Dad was more worried about my wife being upset about the black streak running up and down our wall. My Dad’s unconditional love will never be forgotten. He stood by me through thick and thin. I knew he was and will always be by my side.

Jillian will always remember the OU/Texas rivalry between Brian and Ron. Ron succeeded in teaching his grand daughter, Brynn, how to flash the Longhorn Texas horns and they had a good time showing Daddy their new trick. Ron treated me as his own daughter. I always felt like part of the family and I always felt his love.

Eric will remember Ron as a selfless man. He made everyone laugh including himself. He was never judgmental, and he was always very supportive.

Justin remembers how supportive Ron was during his baseball season, and how he used to warm up the truck during winter ball so his toes wouldn’t get cold. He was patient, a mentor and a teacher. He is the reason that I work hard each and every day to become a boat mechanic. Ron is the reason that I am the man I am today.

 Sarah remembers how loving he was, and how he always wanted her to go to the University of Texas and be a true “longhorn.” I remember he made the best French toast with powdered sugar, but it could only be made with Texas Toast. He never failed to make me a plateful of cinnamon toast before Church every Sunday. I remember how he would throw ball with me whether it was 30º or 90º F. He was the first person I saw every morning and he always made my breakfast and lunch. Afterwards, he would pack my car and wave goodbye to me as I back down the driveway. I will never forget how I forced him to carry around my girly purses in public.

Everyone needs to know the things that Ron disliked: Rap music, beanie caps, health food, cold weather, being called “old”, tattoos and body piercings. Lastly, Ron did not like seeing boys wear their jeans to their knees, he always said, “it looks like their carrying a load of crap in their pants.”

Daddy and his little poofy white doggie, Lucy

To Daddy From the Doggies * Thanks for the Greenies every day at 5:30 * Throwing us in the lake, how thoughtful * Letting us sit with you in your green chair * Sneaking us pieces of steak * Making pancakes for us * Giving us cookies in the morning and throughout the day * Buying our dog food * Taking us boating and jet skiing Love, Katie, Rosie, Mandy, and Lucy*

Ron, Bonnie, and Sarah on the Vista Queen, Duluth, MN

Safely Home I am in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty, In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus' love illumined Every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me, In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have no doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still: Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust our Father's Will There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth- You shall rest in Jesus' land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

God Bless America

Ron was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Section 44, Grave No. 823 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78209

Phone: (210) 820-3891 FAX: (210) 820- 3445 Acreage: 154.7 Number of Interments Thru Fiscal Year 2006: 113,793 HISTORICAL INFORMATION Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is located in San Antonio, Texas, adjoining the Fort Sam Houston Military Post. As early as 1846, the residents of San Antonio attempted to establish a permanent military facility in their town. During the Mexican War, the U.S. Army established a quartermaster depot at San Antonio and a training camp at San Pedro Spring. In 1849, San Antonio was named the headquarters of the U.S. Army, Eighth Military District and the Alamo was leased from the Catholic Church to use as a storage facility. A formal request for an Army post was made in 1870, but Secretary of War W. W. Belknap opposed it. As a result, funding was delayed until 1875 and construction of the fort on 93 acres donated by the city did not begin until June 1876. In 1885 and 1891, 43 acres and 60 buildings were added, respectively, to what would become the post. In 1890 the military post at San Antonio was re-designated Fort Sam Houston by President Benjamin Harrison. Prominent visitors to the post included Chief Geronimo, who was held there in 1886 before his exile to Florida and Theodore Roosevelt, who stopped with his men at the base to receive provisions before leaving for Cuba in 1898. By 1917 the installation had been raised to general depot status and was supplying the Mexican frontier, including troops engaged in General John J. Pershing's pursuit of Francisco “Pancho” Villa. In 1940, it was the largest army post in the United States and it served as a major internment center for prisoners of war during World War II. By 1949, Fort Sam Houston had 1,500 buildings on more than 3,300 acres and was the headquarters for the Fourth U.S. Army. Although the post was established in 1875, the land upon which Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is located did not become a burial ground until approximately half a century later. Interments of men from the post were made in a portion of the city cemetery until 1867, when the United States acquired the tract by donation from the city government and designated it San Antonio National Cemetery. Even at that early date, the city completely surrounded the new national cemetery and the possibility for expansion was extremely limited. As the years passed, the number of military personnel grew with a corresponding increase in the number of post deaths. This created a need for more burial facilities. In recognition of this need, in 1924 a portion of the military reservation was set aside to be used as a post cemetery. The first interment was made two years later in 1926. On Aug. 6, 1931, the War Department announced the transfer of 60 acres, including the post cemetery, from the military reservation and designated the tract an addition to San Antonio National Cemetery. It retained this status until 1937 when the War Department formally renamed it Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Remains from one-time frontier posts in Texas such as Fort Ringgold, Fort Clark, and Fort McIntosh were reinterred in Fort Sam Houston when those facilities closed in 1947.