W. Stanley Foster

W. Stanley Foster PEAKS ISLAND -- W. Stanley Foster died March 1, 2009, at the Barron Center after a lengthy period of declining health. He was born in Dover, N.H. in 1919, the son of Joseph and Beatrice (Stevens) Foster. He spent his early life in Royalton, Vt., graduating from South Royalton High School in 1937. He served in the Army Air Corps during WW II and went around the world beginning in South Carolina. He went by ship to India, where he was stationed for much of the war. Then he was transferred to the Tinian Island base where the Enola Gay ended the war. He briefly visited Australia and returned to the U.S. at San Francisco. After the war, he graduated from the New England Institute of Embalming and Funeral Directors in Boston. He started the Foster Funeral Home in South Royalton, where he lived and worked for many years. He married Virginia Lemery in 1947 and they were together for more than 61 years. Stanley had a life-long connection to Maine because his mother's family was from there. He spent many happy vacations in Ocean Park. In 1970, they bought a cottage on Peaks Island and liked it so much there, they moved there permanently a couple of years later. Stanley worked at Ballard Oil and Service Oil in Portland and retired in 1982. Afterward, he kept busy rebuilding his house, reupholstering furniture and reading. Stanley had a strong, opinionated, Yankee personality but also had a keen sense of humor, intelligence and kindness. He will be missed by his wife; son, Donald; and many who knew him. He is also survived by several nieces; great-nieces and nephews. There will be no visiting hours or funeral service per his wishes. A burial service will be held in Vermont at a later date. Arrangements are by Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Peaks Island Health Center Peaks Island, Maine 04108 W. Stanley Foster Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Service 775-3763