Foster, Bernice "Bunny" (Hollander) 1913-2005

FOSTER, HOLLANDER, EDWARDS, CRENSHAW, EMRY, SHOTT

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/14/2005 at 19:33:38

Bernice "Bunny" Foster
November 09, 2005

Bernice "Bunny" Foster, 92, of Gaithersburg, Md., died Tuesday, Nov. 8, at her home in Gaithersburg.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Epworth United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, with interment at Laytonsville Cemetery in Gaithersburg.

Friends may visit the church from 10 a.m. to the time of service. Memorials to the Bernice and Delbert Foster Scholarship Fund may be at left at the church, 9008 Rosemont Drive, Gaithersburg 20877, or made to the scholarship fund through Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant.

The Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Gaithersburg is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Foster was born April 24, 1913, in Fairfield, the daughter of Elmer and Anne T. Hollander. She married Delbert Foster May 29, 1938.

Mrs. Foster graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College with an education degree and later earned her master's degree in Maryland. Her teaching career began in a country school in Jefferson County. She then moved to Louisa County and taught at Wyman Junior High School. In 1954, Mrs. Foster and her husband moved to Gaithersburg. Mrs. Foster taught at Laytonsville Elementary School for 25 years before retiring in 1980. She was a substitute teacher for several years after retiring. Mrs. Foster's hobbies included traveling and with her husband, she traveled to more than 40 countries.

Mrs. Foster was a longtime member of Epworth United Methodist Church, a member of the Omega Chapter of Phi Mu Sorority for more than 60 years, as well as a member of the Laytonsville Federated Women's Club, Chapter T Sisterhood of the Washington DC PEO, Eastern Star and educational groups NEA, MSTA and MCEA.

In 2004, Mrs. Foster and her husband were given Maryland Senior Citizens' Hall of Fame's highest honor when they were presented with the GERI Award. The award is for extraordinary humanitarian community service for citizens over 60 years old. In 2000, Mrs. Foster was recognized by her church for her lifetime participation in United Methodist Women's activities. Mrs. Foster was named Gaithersburg Citizen of the Year in 1993 for efforts in raising money for Hurricane Andrew relief.

Survivors include her husband; one son-in-law, Richard C. Edwards; one grandson; one great-granddaughter and one great-grandson, all of New Jersey; two nieces and three nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Eva Hollander, Annabelle Crenshaw, Myrtle Emry and Mildred Shott; one brother, Hubert Hollander; and one daughter, Christy Lou Foster Edwards.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005