James Earl "Jim" Foster

1935 - 2025

James ("Jim") Earl Foster, 90 years old of Charleston, WV, passed peacefully at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington, KY on November 15, 2025. He was born in Milburn, West Virginia on February 25, 1935, to the late Emit and Octavia Crawford Foster, the youngest of eight children. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Aretta Berry, Marie Pritt, Helen Foster, Reba Buxton, Madeline Meadows, Kathleen Kaplan and brother Orville Foster. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Donna; daughters, Jan Jewell (Greg) of Charlottesville, VA and Susan Wallace (George) of Lexington, KY; grandchildren, Mallorie Bristol (Blake) of Charlottesville, VA, Ryan Jewell of Conroe, TX, Benjamin Wallace, Clayton Wallace (Isabel), and Ashleigh VanMeter (Webb) of Lexington, KY and great grandchildren Lillian, Sawyer, Freya and Callahan along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Charleston High School in Charleston, West Virginia and attended Ohio State University where he was a member of Zeta Kappa Fraternity until proudly enlisting in the United States Army. He was a part of the 2nd Armored Division of Fort Hood, nicknamed "Hell on Wheels." Jim was stationed in Germany from 1958 to 1960.

After serving his country, Jim returned to Charleston, West Virginia to finish his education at Morris Harvey College, earning his degree in accounting. Jim married his loving wife Donna and began his career as a Certified Public Accountant. He achieved partner in 1967 and served as presiding member of Arnett and Foster, PLLC until his retirement in 2000. During his career, he served as the 60th President of the West Virginia Society of CPAs and was awarded the Life Membership Award in 1998. He also served as president of the National Association of Accountants and on the Board of Directors for the Association of Regional Accounting Firms.

Outside the office, Jim was a member of the Beni Kedem Temple chapter for over 50 years and on the first West Virginia Lottery Commission in 1985. He was Chairman of the Yeager Airport Finance Committee and on the Yeager Airport Construction Committee. He was a member of the Elks and Charleston Rotary Clubs, as well as Kanawha and Berry Hills Country Clubs. During his time in Lexington, he attended Southland Christian Church. He loved spending weekends in Morgantown cheering on the Mountaineers. He was forever a West Virginia Mountaineer fan!

Above all else, Jim loved being a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His greatest joy was watching his family grow and cheering them on through every milestone. His legacy of family and hard work will live on through all of us.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 22 at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home 's Main Street location in Lexington, KY. Friends may visit at the funeral home one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 am. Burial will follow at Lexington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bluegrass Care Navigators, 1733 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY 40504, www.bgcarenav.org.