Barbara Ann Foster

Barbara Foster passed away on January 12th, 2026 at the age of 86. She was born on May 4th, 1939, in Estill Springs, Tennessee to Merill and Julia Prince. Julia later remarried to Woodrow Hobbs (Papa). Barbara and her siblings lived in Tennessee during her early childhood until her step-dad Papa found work in Chicago which her Mom (Granny) and family later followed. Going from the south up north was very difficult. She spent most of her teenage years around Harvey, Illinois and later met and married Rufus Harold Steele and started their family. She worked at several jobs, but mainly in Chicago with Walgreens. She enjoyed her children, her siblings, and most of all her loving parents that we all called Granny and Papa. She later after her divorce married H.L. (Bill) Foster Jr. and from there moved to Houston, Texas with her daughter Gaylene and later with son Richard. Bill had several children, which she loved them too. She took a job at Foleys and was the best custom gift wrapped specialist for fine china they ever had for over 20 years. We all enjoyed the presents she lovingly wrapped for all of us. She enjoyed decorating especially at Christmas and passed this talent on down to her daughter and granddaughter (interior decorator). She loved her plants and keeping up her beautiful yard. Barbara went through a lot, as a young woman, with several life threatening surgeries and even 15 years ago was told from an accident she wouldn’t walk again, but with God’s help she did. Barbara loved going to church and most of all loved her Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, which she now is in His loving arms. She was always ready to share her faith and would always be praying for so many of us. She enjoyed her last years sending cards with scriptures to encourage family, friends, and neighbors that needed ministering too, even kept up with a neighbor in prison that later accepted the Lord before he died.

Barbara was proceed in death by her parents, her first and second husband Harold Steele and Bill Foster, her sister Kay Oehmke and husband Ray, her brother Fred (Jack) Hobbs and Deana, Sue, and Robin (wives not deceased), and her brother Jerry Hobbs and wife Kathy (not deceased). Barbara is survived by her children Gaylene DeFriend and husband Stephen of Katy, Tx. and daughter Julie, and son Richard Steele of Estill Springs, Tn., and his children Richard, Scotty, Ryan, and Tiffany, and a total of eleven great grandchildren. Her step-children Joseph Foster and wife Deloris (both deceased) of Houston, Tx., Daniel Foster and wife Shari of Richmond, Tx., Michael Foster and wife Lisa of Campti La., Denise Foster of Cloutierville, La., and a total of seven grandchildren.

Please let folks who are sending flowers not to send yellow flowers or with any yellow in it.

In lieu of flowers we kindly ask for donations to the family, or to Barbara's church Family Life Assembly of God, 249 Roesner Rd.

If sending flowers, please refrain from yellow flowers.