Ruby Jean Foster

1928 - 2024

Ruby Jean Foster
Litchfield - Ruby Jean (Reehle) Foster, RN, a long-time resident of Litchfield, IL (1962-2008) and Meridian Village (Glen Carbon, IL) (2008-2024) passed away Monday, September 2, 2024, two days before her 96th birthday.
A Memorial Service and reception will be held at Meridian Village on Friday, September 13, at 10:30am.
Ruby was born on September 4,1928 in Palmyra, NE, the daughter of William Jacob and Edith Bucholz Reehle. Her husband of 61 years, Dr. James T. (Jim) Foster, died in 2012. Her sister, Darlene Lakes, passed away in 2021. She is survived by her brother Maurice (Butch) Reehle, twelve nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews.
When Ruby was eleven, her mother died, and her father, Ruby and Darlene relocated to St. Louis early in World War II. Ruby graduated from high school in 1945, and at age 16 entered the last class of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, studying and working as a charge nurse on the St. Louis City Hospital wards for three years. After graduation in 1948 as an RN, Ruby remained at St. Louis City Hospital. She met her husband Jim, then a medical student, at a nurses' dance. Later Jim's internship and U. S. Air Force service took them to Miami, FL and to Sacramento, CA. When Jim was discharged, they relocated to Manhattan Beach, CA. Ruby worked as head nurse on a male surgery ward at what is now Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, while Jim took residencies in the new field of radiology, focusing on imaging and cancer therapy. Later Ruby worked in Jim's medical office, administering X-rays, typing reports, and delivering them in their Austin-Healy Sprite convertible.
After they relocated to Litchfield in 1962, Jim established the imaging center at St. Francis Hospital, while Ruby volunteered in the Women's Auxiliary, serving as president for two years.
When Medicare started in the 1970's, Ruby set up and managed Jim's medical billing. After retiring, she volunteered for 10 years in a county hospice program and served 10 years in the Ombudsman Program for the Illinois Department of Aging, advocating for residents in nursing homes.
In 1970 Ruby and Jim built a home on Yaeger Lake where they enjoyed boating, waterskiing, and birdwatching. They traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad, including a memorable Kenyan safari.
The Fosters were long-time members of Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, where Ruby taught Sunday School.
For her last 16 years, Ruby lived at Meridian Village. She connected with many of the staff, encouraging their ongoing education, and telling them of her early days in nursing. In her last years, Ruby enjoyed meeting with young nursing students through the RN and MSN courses taught by her friend Vickie Rogers at Lewis & Clark Community College. Ruby urged them to "Be good nurses!"
Ruby was invited into the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, a 2018 day trip to Washington D.C. to tour the monuments that have been built in veterans' honor.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, IL
The family is being served by Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034.