Virginia C. Foster

Virginia Winifred Childers Foster was born November 27, 1920 in McCreary County, Kentucky. She was the second of three children born to Elmer and Elizabeth Neal Childers, and maintained a lifelong bond with her sister Wilma and her brother Raymond. Within the family, Virginia was known as "Sister". The nickname originated when Virginia's sister Wilma, who was unable to pronounce "Virginia", was encouraged by their mother to call the new baby "Sister" instead.

Virginia was a lively, fearless child, not one to shrink from anything. She protected both her siblings from any potential bullying. She also didn't fear trying something new, even something that was potentially dangerous. One day she informed her sister Wilma that she believed she could fly. She then took their mother's umbrella and climbed onto the roof of the chicken house, where she attempted to prove her theory. What resulted, however,was a fall, along with damage to the umbrella, which earned Virginia a spanking. Fortunately, she wasn't seriously hurt, and her sass and spunk remained intact.

Along with her sister and two other girls, Virginia sang in a children's quartet. The group once traveled to Cleveland, Tennessee to sing at a church convention, and also once sang for the governor of Kentucky. Virginia had a lovely soprano voice, and also had a lifelong love of music. In fact, her high school yearbook predicted that one day she would be a blues singer. Although that didn't become a reality, family and friends would enjoy her singing for many years to come.

Virginia continued her lively ways in high school, playing basketball, making friends and enjoying herself. After high school, she entered Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky. There she made new friends and often found herself in trouble because of her habit of breaking rules. She remembered her time at Cumberland with great fondness, and often talked about how much she enjoyed it.

After graduation from Cumberland in 1940, Virginia began teaching school. In 1943, she met Eugene Foster at a local Fourth of July carnival. Eugene was better known as "Gene", and was working at a furniture store, having recently returned from a naval enlistment. On March 8, 1944, Virginia and Gene were married in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Gene was four years younger than Virginia, and when they applied for a marriage license, he was told that he had to have parental consent. This posed a problem, since his parents were at home. The day was saved when Virginia's sister Wilma stepped in, telling the clerk that Gene's parents were outside and that they gave their consent. A license was granted, and Gene and Virginia were married.

An acquaintance of the Childers family helped Gene get a job at the Goodyear plant in Akron, Ohio, and he also drove Gene and Virginia to Akron and helped them find an apartment. Virginia later remembered using suitcases as tables in this apartment. Her career as a teacher was now over, so she took a job in a department store selling hoisery, and later worked as a sales representative for Childcraft Books.

When World War II ended, the soldiers who returned from the war got back the jobs they had left behind. Because Gene's job had originally been held by a member of the armed forces, he needed to look for another job. In 1946, Virginia's aunt was working at Delco Moraine in Dayton, Ohio, and she assisted Gene and Virginia with getting jobs at the plant. Gene and Virginia lived in Dayton, either renting rooms or an apartment, for the next six years. Following the birth of their daughter Vickie, they bought a house in Germantown, Ohio, and lived there until 1959, when they moved to Miamisburg, Ohio.

One day, Virginia's daughter Vickie came home from school and told Virginia that her teacher would be leaving because she was expecting a baby. Virginia borrowed a hat from her mother, who was visiting at the time, and went to see the school superintendent, intending to apply for the job. She got it, on the condition that she complete a BS degree, and she returned to teaching.

Virginia went to summer school in the next several years and worked on her degree. She often found it difficult, but she persevered, and in 1968 she received a BS in Elementary Education from Miami University of Ohio. She taught third grade until her retirement in 1985, and many times said it was the best job she ever had. She often encountered her former students around town after her retirement, and one of them became her doctor in later years.

Virginia's husband Gene retired from Delco Moraine, and the two of them were able to spend more time together. Their favorite travel destination was Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a place they visited many times over the years until Gene's death in 2005.

In her last years, Virginia experienced vision problems, an irregular heartbeat, and severe arthritis. In 2011, she was diagnosed with dementia. Although her memory was failing, she remained the special and lovable person she had always been. She could find pleasure in ordinary inanimate objects, such as the lid from a jar, or a coaster, and she saw beauty in everyone she encountered, never failing to tell people how pretty she thought they were.

On March 6, 2013, Miamisburg, Ohio was covered with a blanket of beautiful, fluffy snow. On that day, Virginia passed away peacefully at home. The world lost a sweet and wonderful woman, but Heaven gained a treasure. Also, two days later, March 8, was Virginia and Gene's wedding anniversary. At last, they would be together again.

Virginia is no longer physically present, but her legacy lives on. Her memory may have declined at the end, but the memory of her will remain, securely locked away in the hearts of her family and friends.

Love never forgets.

Contributions in memory of Virginia may be made to:

Heartland Hospice

3131 South Dixie Drive

Suite 208

Dayton, Ohio 45439