Natalie Foster

Although she had been living in Pine Bluff, AR since 2000, she moved back to the Evansville area in 2010. For years Natalie taught in the Vanderburgh County Weekday Religious Education Program, sponsored by the Area Evansville Council of Churches. She shared the label, “Church Lady,” with a popular Saturday Night Live character and it just stuck. Kids and adults called her “The Church Lady” for years. Later, she became the Director of the program, retiring in 1990. She touched many lives in the Weekday Program, The Audubon Society and as a Cub Scout Den Mother. She also formed the first Ranger Rick Club in Indiana and was a founding member of the Seedling Garden Club in McCutchanville. She was instrumental in improving Wesselman Park and served on the board for years as it evolved into a Nature Center, as well as numerous boards and advisory committees in the area. She was a lifelong member of the McCutchanville Methodist Church and continued to teach an adult class on Sunday well into her retirement. Natalie was nationally respected as an accredited Lab School Trainer for the Methodist curriculum. She was invited to teach all across the country but preferred the North Carolina area where she and her husband, Walt, essentially vacationed while she worked most summers.

Natalie was preceded in death by her son, Brad, in 2007; and her husband of 66 years, Walter, who was a WWII Veteran, in 2008.

She is survived by her son, Wayne (Erin) of Pine Bluff, AR; grandchildren, Kristin Cook (Tony) of Vicksburg, MS and Matthew (Christi); great-grandchildren, Sam, Matt, Jack and Gabriella of Philadelphia, PA; brother, also a WWII Veteran, Glen C. Hartig (Carolyn) and his family, Howard (Ellen), all of NYC, Gordon, Bryan (Rose) and Lowell (Judy), all of Evansville, who provided support in her waning years at Cypress Grove; and daughter-in-law, Theresa Snuffer of Lafayette.

All former pupils, teachers and friends of the Foster’s are invited to attend a memorial celebration on Sunday, July 8, 2012, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the dining room area of the McCutchanville Community Church, 9505 Petersburg Road. Friends may also visit Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Alexander East Chapel, 2115 Lincoln Avenue.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to make memorial contributions to the Evansville Council of Churches or the National Audubon Society. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.