Ralph Foster Jr.

WESTMINSTER -- Ralph S. “Sarge” Foster Jr., 85, of Westminster and St. Augustine, Fla., died Thursday evening, March 30, at the HealthAlliance Hospital/Leominster after an illness.

Mr. Foster was born in Essex on Aug. 23, 1920, a son of the late Ralph S. Sr. and Viola Foster. He grew up in Lunenburg and, as a young man, he was very active in the Boy Scouts. Mr. Foster is a 1938 graduate of Lunenburg High School and he graduated from Boston University in 1942 with a degree in business administration. He also served in the U.S. Army as a captain from April 2, 1943 to July 1, 1946. He was the owner, operator and founder of the Old Mill Restaurant for over 60 years. Mr. Foster also built and ran the Westminster Village Inn from 1954 to 1988, currently known as the Wachusett Village Inn. He also owned various other restaurants in Fitchburg and Lunenburg. Mr. Foster was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church of Westminster, a Charter Member of the Westminster Rotary Club, currently known as the Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club. He was also active in the St. Augustine Rotary Club. He was a member of the William S. Miller American Legion Post 174, M.O.A.A. Military Officers Association of America. He was member of the board of directors for the YMCA in Fitchburg, He was a founding member and served on the board of directors for Quality Inns. He was a member of the St. Augustine Offices Club.

Mr. Foster leaves his wife of 63 years, Ruth J. Foster; one son and daughter-in-law, Don and Beth Foster of Westminster; four grandchildren, Amy R. Irizarry of St. Augustine, Fla., Donald S. “Jay” Foster II of Westminster, Julie H. Foster of St. Augustine, Fla., and Christopher P. Foster of Westminster; one great-granddaughter, Emily R. Irizarry of St. Augustine, Fla.; two brothers, Robert N. “Bob” Foster of Nashua, N.H., and William C. “Bill” Foster of Westminster; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded by a brother, Roger W. Foster.

FOSTER -- On March 30, Ralph S. “Sarge” Foster Jr., 85, of Westminster and St. Augustine, Fla. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, April 4, at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Westminster, 138 Main St., Westminster. Calling hours will be on Monday, April 3, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home (www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net), 123 Main St., Westminster. Burial will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Knower Road, Westminster. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Foster’s name to either the Westminster Boy Scout Troop 33, c/o I-C Federal Credit Union, 101 Main St., Westminster, MA 01473, or to the Westminster Historical Society, P.O. Box 177, Westminster, MA 01473.