Donald Landon Foster's Obituary
Donald Landon Foster, 73, of Alliance, went home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at 11:11 p.m. on June 30, 2010. He was surrounded, by his loving family, at the Hospice VNS Care Center in Fairlawn, OH, at the time of his death. He was born on November 23, 1936 in Marshall County, WV, and lived in Alliance most of his life. A U. S. Army veteran, he was a member of the American Legion Post 166 and the VFW Post 1036. Don was a member of Regina Coeli Catholic Church in Alliance, and of the Knights of Columbus, Council #558. He was also a member of the Alliance Masonic Temple, Conrad Lodge #271, Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons of Ohio-Canton Council #35, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio-Canton Chapter #84, the Akron Masonic Temple, and the Tadmor Shriners of Alliance. Don was a member of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, and the Alliance Senior Center. Don had a love for the city of Alliance. He touched many people s lives over the years, which included serving as Chapter "Dad" for the Alliance DeMolays. He sponsored many Hot Stove Baseball teams, Carnation Queen Pageant contestants and multiple bowling leagues. He was a man of great faith and spoke freely of his love of the Lord. He loved his family, was a proud owner of his carpet cleaning business for 35 years, and had a passion for all animals including his most recent buddy, "Stretch". Don was honored to carry the American flag for the Shriners in numerous parades. We will miss his vibrant blue eyes, his "light up your heart" smile, his never-ending and amusing jokes, his loud and contagious laughter, and the sweet, sweet sound of his whistling. Don is survived by his wife of 31 years, Margaret "Margie" Retone Foster whom he married on February 16, 1979; a daughter, Vicky (Bill) Collins of Salem; a son, Donnie (Sue) Foster of Uniontown; a step-daughter, Melissa "Missy" (Rob) Crider Bertrand of Batavia, IL; two step-sons, Eric (Christy) Crider of Corona, CA, and Tim (Jana) Crider of Wheaton, IL; grandchildren, Andrea (Chad) Campbell, Ashley (Chris) Evans, Ryan (Cyndi) Foster, and Scott Foster; step-grandchildren, Dylan and Erica Crider, Derrick, Mathew, and Martina Crider, Julia and Renee Bertrand; great-grandchildren, Camryn and Cohen Campbell, Adayson Evans, and Karrington Foster; a brother, James W. "Bill" (Dollie) Foster of Proctor, WV; a sister-in-law, Sissy Foster of Moundsville, WV; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, Randall and Virginia (Wood) Foster; two brothers, Hubert "Red" Foster, Robert "Shorty" (Paige) Foster; in-laws, Frank and Julia Retone, Sr.; and brother-in-law, Frankie Retone. The family would like to thank the nurses at the VNS Hospice Center. A special thank you to our "singing angel", Dorothea Clarke, for healing our hearts through her beautiful songs. Good friend, Carol Ferlotti for her love and support to all of our family throughout our journey. We also would like to recognize the generosity of Carol, Grace, Pat and Albert Retone for providing meals to the family while staying at the hospice center. We will be forever grateful to all of you for touching our lives in a very special way. The family will receive friends at the Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home on Monday, July 5, 2010 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. A Masonic service will be held at 6:00 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus service at 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Regina Coeli Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Fr. Michael Seifert, as celebrant. Interment, with military honors provided by the Alliance American Legion Post 166 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1036, will follow at Highland Memorial Park. Friends and family will gather at Regina Coeli Parish Hall immediately following the committal service at the cemetery.
What’s your fondest memory of Donald?
What’s a lesson you learned from Donald?
Share a story where Donald's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Donald you’ll never forget.
How did Donald make you smile?