Eleanor Foster

Eleanor Foster, 93, of Salem, NH passed away on Dec. 7, 2025 at Windham Terrace in Windham, NH.

She was born Eleanor Elsie Kimball on May 23, 1932 in the front bedroom of 57 Main Street, Salem NH. Eleanor would live there for most of her life. She graduated from Woodbury High School as valedictorian in 1950. She attended Gordon College in Massachusetts where she got her bachelor's degree in education. She was the pianist for the college choir. In 1954 her father, C. Lester Kimball, was tragically killed in a barn fire. He was a volunteer with the Salem Fire Department. Eleanor cared for her mother, Minnie Kimball, until she passed away in 1980.

Upon graduating from Gordon, Eleanor took a job as a 3rd grade teacher at the Fisk school in Salem. As her husband liked to say, after that year she was demoted to 1st grade where she taught for 34 years at Fisk, Lancaster and North Salem schools. She loved teaching and even after retirement continued to substitute and volunteer at the school into her 80's.

Eleanor married Stanley Wilson Foster on July 1, 1961. They raised two children, Nancy Louise and Wayne Alan, in the house where she had been born. In addition to teaching full-time, she always made time to take her children to music lessons, school events and lots of summer activities. The family vacationed for two weeks every summer, usually in Schroon Lake, NY or West Dennis, MA. They also took many trips to historical places such as Gettysburg, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.

Eleanor enjoyed crocheting afghans for everyone and reading to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She once read 14 books to a grandchild in one sitting. In her later years she enjoyed volunteering with her grandson's Special Olympics team where she was known as "just call me Gram". She also regularly spent a couple of mornings each week helping in the Renew clothes closet at her church.

Eleanor was pre-deceased by her parents, C. Lester and Minnie Kimball; her husband, Stanley Foster; a brother, Charles Kimball; and a sister, Elizabeth Gordon.

Eleanor is survived by her daughter, Nancy Kish and husband Edward, and her son, Wayne Foster and partner, Jeanette; her grandchildren, Edward and wife Rachel, Philip, Charles and wife Lucy, Samuel and wife Kayla, Kristina and partner Dakota, Daniel and wife Lauren, Righley and Colby and 9 great grandchildren.

Calling hours will be Thursday, December 11th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, NH. The Funeral Service will be Friday at 10:30 am at Calvary Bible Church, 145 Hampstead Rd, Derry, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Eleanor's name may be sent to Kimi Nichols Center, 17 East Rd, Plaistow, NH 03865 or to Calvary Bible Church, 145 Hampstead Rd, Derry, NH 03038.

To send a message of condolence to the family, please view the obituary www.online-tribute.com/GramFoster