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FOSTER -- Harlan Gary Foster, 75, of Christiansburg, VA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at Lewis-Gale Montgomery Regional Hospital. He was a member of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church. He was a Program Planner with the Federal Aviation Association from which he retired after 26 years of service. He proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict in the United States Marine Corp. He was born May 3, 1935 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania the son of Harlan Grant and Ora Bidwell Foster. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepson, Keith Glenn Church of La Mesa, California in 2008. Survivors include his wife Stella T. (Betty) Foster of Christiansburg, VA; mother-in-law, Myrtle Thompson of Wheatland Hills in Radford, VA; sister-in-law, Pat (Sister) Saunders of Radford, VA; and his loving cat DUKE. Harlan Gary Foster, 75, was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania and moved with his parents to Weatherford, Texas at the age of nine. There he received his pilot's license at the age of 14 and later in Albuquerque he achieved Certificate #7 for piloting Hot Air Balloons. He supported his wife's nursing career as he followed her from Gallup, New Mexico where she worked in Public Health Education, to Window Rock for Navaho Family Planning, to Ramah for the Zuni Tribal School System and across the country to Virginia where they settled down to become her parent's caregivers. He had many people that influenced his life over the years and have been close friends during his fight with Melanoma. These include physicians and friends Dr. Scott Jamison, Dr. Philip Grubbs and his staff, Dr. Harry McCoy, Dr. Andrew Battiata, and Dr. Aaron Prussin, Dr. Jason Fowlkes, Dr. Jose Rivero and the million dollar miracle, his best friend Johnnie Phillips, many other friends and neighbors, and his church family at Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Christiansburg. He always used Radford Wal-Mart Pharmacy and became good friends with Pharmacists Karen White and Rick Collie and all the pharmacy techs who treated him with support and many kindnesses. He was given ministerial support by his former pastor Mickey White and good friend, Frances (Florence) Lyles of Tupelo, Mississippi, Sherry Smith who freely gave lots of well needed hugs, and Larisa and George Crockett, whom really changed Stella and Gary's lives with their knowledge of electronics, Russian and history, Olen Dennis and P. J. with the" Magnificent Seven" of Albuquerque, NM, and Jack and Diane McGill, Sandia Park, NM. Harlan Gary Foster was an avid reader and cruciverbalist, but especially enjoyed the many hours spent fishing with Stella. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford, Virginia with Rev. Ken Farrar and Rev. Mickey White officiating and VFW Post #776 conducting military rites. Cremation has already taken place. Mr. Foster requested no food, plants or flowers but to please give memorial contributions to the Mt. Tabor UMC Youth Group, 1742 Walton Road, Christiansburg, VA 24073 or the Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. The Foster family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com
        Published on: Wed April 27, 2011