Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth Foster

Columbia: Ruth Elizabeth Foster passed away on Monday, September 17, 2012. Ruth was born to Elizabeth and Wesley Macy Hobson in New Providence, Iowa May 21, 1918. She was born and raised on the family farm and attended a one room schoolhouse until high school. At New Providence High School she played forward on the girl’s basketball team, appeared in musicals with her future husband, Joe, and was known as an excellent math student. Following graduation in 1936 she attended ABC Business School in Kansas City, Missouri. She married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Franklin Foster, on June 8, 1940 and worked at the Iowa State Highway Commission until her husband completed his Doctorate in Biochemistry at Iowa State University. The couple moved to Boston, Massachusetts where she was employed at Lever Brothers until daughter Ann was born. She and her husband returned to Ames, Iowa where sons Gregory and Michael were born. The couple moved to West Lafayette, Indiana in 1954 where her husband served on the faculty as Professor of Biochemistry at Purdue University. Following her husband’s death in 1975 she was employed at the Purdue Research Foundation. She was married to Professor Gunnar Kullerud from 1981 until his death in 1989. She moved to Beaufort, SC in 1998 and settled in Columbia in 2002. Ruth was a devoted wife and mother and was well known for her hospitality and interest in entertaining guests, frequently hosting elegant dinners for distinguished international scientists. She was an active member of the Purdue Faculty Wives, PEO and a volunteer with the League of Woman Voters. She loved to travel and visited virtually every continent. She lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, London, England, Taipei, Taiwan, Sydney, Australia, and Risor, Norway during her husbands’ various sabbatical leaves. She enjoyed playing golf and bridge well into her mid 80’s. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia. She is survived by her sister, Helen Jane Fortner of St. Petersburg, FL; her daughter, Ann (Harald) Lohn of Prior Lake, MN; son, Gregory (Judy) Foster of Plymouth, MI; and son, Dr. Michael (Laura) Foster of Columbia, SC. She has eight grandchildren: Joseph Foster II (Wendy), Anthony Foster, Erik (Allysson) Lohn, Kristin (Erik) Arntzen, Lee Ann Foster, Michael Foster Jr., Frances Foster and Mary Grace Foster. There are eight great grandchildren: Myles, Shaye and Rowan Foster, Winston, Allastair and Hillary Lohn, Elizabeth and Charlotte Ruth Arntzen. The family wishes to thank loving caregivers Essie Smith and Jackie Sims for their longtime support of Mrs. Foster and her physician, Dr. Francis Goldstein. Friends may visit the home of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Foster, 1548 Kathwood Dr. on Wednesday, September 19th from 5 until 7 pm. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Ruth will be interred at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens in West Lafayette, IN. Memorials may be sent to Purdue University Department of Chemistry, Joseph F Foster Memorial Fund, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Shives Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth Foster

May 28, 1918 - September 17, 2012