BILL FOSTER
Tupelo - William Gladstone"Bill" Foster, 82, died Thursday, January 7, 2010, at his home after an extended illness. A Plantersville native and lifelong resident of Lee County, he was born May 6, 1927 to Thomas Preston and Sarah Elizabeth Brinkley Foster. He served his country in the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged in 1947. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He worked for Malone and Hyde as Transportation Manager for 42 years. After retirement, he transported cars for local automobile dealerships. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-children and enjoyed watching the kids play their various sports. He was proud of his three grandsons who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a member of Thomas Street Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.
Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Frank Panzrino officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Quina Mae Collier Foster of Tupelo; two daughters, Pat Kelley and husband, Butch, of Tupelo, and Sheila Symes and husband, Scott, of Tupelo; one son, Danny Foster and wife, Pam, of Tupelo; two sisters, Rena McVay of Tupelo and Minnie Vanderford of Corpus Christi, Tex.; five grandchildren, Kristen Cobb and husband, Mark, of Tupelo, Brad and Kevin Foster of Tupelo, Ashley and Eric Symes of Tupelo; three great-grandchildren, Kelby, Drake, and Zayne Cobb of Tupelo; two sisters-in-law, Alice Collier Patrick of Arcadia, Fla. and Eva Foster of Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Myrtle Bell Kelly and Elizabeth Sheffield; and two brothers, Tommy Foster, Preston Foster.
Pallbearers will be his nephews, Ronald Collier, Hoyt Sheffield, George Sheffield, James Sheffield, Tim Foster, Wayne Foster, Paul McVay, David McVay and Thomas Kelly.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Clarence Foster, Robert Sheffield, Joe Vanderford, the past truck drivers of Malone and Hyde; and his car transporting buddies.
Visitation will continue 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice, in care of the Health Care Foundation, 830 S. Gloster, 38801. Please mark the donation, "Hospice," and in memory of Bill Foster; or the Boy Scouts of America Yocona Area Council, 505 Airpark Road, Tupelo MS 38801.