Joan Foster

Jodie Foster died Easter Sunday March 23rd in El Paso with her surviving sister Sugar Hayden at her side. Her death was unexpected but peaceful and without suffering. Jodie was born Joan Herndon Thompson in Fort Riley Kansas on October 27th 1920 to John Moore Thompson and wife Glen (Eoline Glenmore Adams), the second of three children. She spent her childhood as an Army brat and her adult life as an Air Force wife after marrying Lt. Donald C. Foster of Spartanburg, SC at the chapel of Fort McPherson, GA on December 6th, 1941, the day before Pearl Harbor. While the honeymoon was cut short, the marriage lasted sixty-five years until Don’s death last year on February 13th, 2007. Jodie was survived by her two son’s, Don of Paonia, Colorado and Michael of Winchester, Virginia, two daughter in-laws, Lynn and Su-Lin, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Sugar Hayden and her husband Col. Buster Hayden, U.S. Army Ret. A brother, Tommy Thompson and son, Robert Gates “Casey” Foster, predeceased her. She was very close to her husband’s family and to many of her neighbors at White Acres. A Memorial Service for Jodie will be held at St. Clements Church, 801 N. Campbell, on the morning of Monday, March 31st at 11:00 followed by a reception. Friends may choose, in lieu of flowers, to make a remembrance to St. Clements. Friends and family are invited to gather for a memorial celebration and reception at Good Samaritan White Acres on Sunday March 30th at 5:30 PM. Jodie was an active member of St. Clements Church and a member of the Clementines. She was a member of Las Comadres, Pi Beta Phi, the Fort Bliss RROWC and Army Daughters. She loved golf and she and Don played golf together into their eighties. Jodie loved to sit down at the piano and sing; she had an amazing memory for lyrics and verse. Her faith was central to her life, as were her family, her friends, but especially her husband Don.