June Rebecca Foster Bass

BASS, Mrs. June Rebecca Foster, 77, left her earthly family to be with her heavenly family on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, after a heroic three year battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lou Hilton Foster (Inez); and an older brother, Mr. L. H. Foster Jr. of Brookneal, Va. She was born July 21, 1931, at her home in Brookneal, Va. She graduated from Brookneal High School and continued her higher education at Richmond Professional Institute, now known as Virginia Commonwealth University. After earning a Certificate of Interior Design in 1952, she graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1953. She was elected as senior class president and as May Queen in 1953. June is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Robert Bruce Bass "Bob" of Richmond, Va.; and three daughters, Becky Marshall and husband, Joel, of Burlington, N.C., Barbara Robbins and husband, Alan, of Linville, Va., and Nora Laver and husband, Roberto, of Waltham, Mass.; and one son, Robert Bruce Bass Jr. and his wife, Pamela, of Midlothian, Va. She leaves 11 precious grandchildren, Grant, Benjamin and Anna Marshall, Michael, Brian and Matthew Robbins, Brittany, Autumn and Robbie Bass, Laura and Esteban Laver. She is survived by her older sister, Mrs. Mildred Lewis Kimm of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; and her younger brother, Mr. Watt Robert Foster of Brookneal, Va. She leaves 11 dear nieces and nephews. June's homemaking and church service were the passions of her life. She was a member of Bon Air Baptist Church since 1958, where she served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, Mission Friends Director, GA Director, Acteens Director, WMU Director and sang in the Golden Notes Senior Adult Choir. June also taught English as a Second Language (ESL) through BABC. In addition to serving her local church, she also served through the Richmond Baptist Association in many areas of leadership. The Virginia Baptist Woman's Missionary Union was the recipient of her ministry on their Camp Planning Committee, where she was also the Chairman of the Building and Decoration Committee and established the Bass Scholarship Fund. This fund has enabled over 175 campers to experience missions in a camp setting. She also served as a WMUV Executive Council member and as 2nd Vice-President. She was a member for 25 years of the Virginia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday (today) at Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Rd. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to be made to The Bass Scholarship Fund, Woman's Missionary Union of Va., P.O. Box 8435, Richmond, Va. 23226, or Woman's Missionary Union, Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Rd., Richmond, Va. 23235.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.