Tom was born on September 23, 1947, in Monticello, Kentucky, to the late Grover and Vela Foster. He was a faithful member of Summer Grove Baptist Church and, later, First Baptist Church Keithville.
Tom graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1965 and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business from Louisiana State University in Shreveport in 1997.
Tom began his career with Western Electric, later known as AT&T, in Indianapolis, where he worked as a tool designer. In 1984, AT&T relocated Tom and his family to Shreveport, Louisiana. After more than 30 years of dedicated service, he retired from AT&T. Never one to stay idle, Tom later worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car as a driver, a role he greatly enjoyed because of his love for driving and exploring the roads around him.
Tom will be remembered as a thoughtful, patient, quiet, loving, and kind man who deeply cherished his family. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to his daughters and grandchildren, whether for a project, a repair, or simply a favor. Tom never missed a family gathering, ballgame, celebration, holiday meal, or opportunity to spend time with those he loved most. His great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren brought him immeasurable joy.
In his spare time, Tom enjoyed reading, playing cards, traveling, fishing, woodworking-- often joking, "I love making sawdust"--and watching classic Westerns on television.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 47 years, Mary Foster; his brother, Paul Foster; his sister, Mary Alexander; and his nephew, Danny Alexander.
Tom was blessed to find love again and shared eleven wonderful years of marriage with Barbara, building cherished memories together through faith, family, travel, and friendship.
Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of eleven years, Barbara Fossman Foster; daughters, Tina Burton and husband Keith, and Teresa Dean and husband Kurt; grandchildren Ryan Burton and wife Sarah, Will Burton and wife Raelee, Anna Kate Kuhr and husband Jackson, and Isabel Dean; great-grandchildren, Pierce Burton and Oaklee Burton; stepchildren, Susan Brown and husband Steve, and Jeff Fossman and wife Melissa; seven step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and dear friends.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at First Baptist Church Keithville, 6295 Williams Road, Keithville, Louisiana 71047. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon at Centuries Memorial Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church Keithville, 3:18 Church or the American Cancer Society.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the many family members, friends, caregivers, nurses, physicians, and medical professionals who walked alongside Tom during his illness. Your kindness, compassion, prayers, and support were a tremendous blessing to him and to those who loved him.
