Harold A. Foster and Margaret Ruth Exley
Husband Harold A. Foster 1
Born: 28 Apr 1914 - Conneautville, Crawford Co, PA 1 Christened: Died: 29 Apr 1971 - Erie, Erie Co, PA 1 Buried: - Fairview Cemetery, Fairview Twp, Erie Co, PA
Father: Jesse "Brown" Foster ( - ) Mother: Rose Ann Huson ( - )
Marriage: 23 Mar 1940 1
Wife Margaret Ruth Exley 1
Born: 25 May 1915 - Bratenahl, Cuyahoga Co, OH 1 Christened: Died: 21 Aug 2005 - Erie Co, PA 1 Buried: - Fairview Cemetery, Fairview Twp, Erie Co, PA
Father: Reginald Chetwood Exley (1885-1949) 2 Mother: Clara Florence Merritt (1887-1969) 2
Children
1 F Joan Kathleen Foster 3
Born: - Erie, Erie Co, PA Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Russell Kenneth Mink (1927-1993) 3 Marr: 29 Sep 1962 3Spouse: David Charles Fiesler ( - ) 3 Marr: 4 Apr 2003 3
2 F Sandra Kay Foster 3
Born: 6 May 1943 - Erie, Erie Co, PA 3 Christened: Died: 14 Apr 2003 - Houston, Harris Co, TX 3 Buried:Spouse: John Edward Prymuszewski ( - ) 3 Marr: (Divorced)
3 F Judith Kathryn Foster 3
Born: - Erie, Erie Co, PA Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Richard Raymond Enstrom ( - ) 3
4 M Ronald Keith Foster 3
Born: - Erie, Erie Co, PA Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Cerena Glover ( - ) 3 Marr: (Divorced)
5 F Diane Karen Foster 4
Born: - Erie, Erie Co, PA Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Robert Lee Matz ( - ) 3
6 F Alice Karol Foster 3
Born: - Erie, Erie Co, PA Christened: Died: Buried:
7 M David Kevin Foster 3
Born: - Erie, Erie Co, PA Christened: Died: Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Harold A. Foster
Unk newspaper,
September 2003
Harold A. Foster was born at home on the farm on Thatcher Road in Conneautville, Pa April 28, 1914. His parents were JESSE "BROWN" FOSTER and ROSE ANN HUSON. A cousin Bell Johnson Greene was midwife to his mother when he was born. She later verified this when he needed his birth certificate. He was the youngest of seven children, his father died when he was three years old in 1917. He helped on the farm until he grew up and worked at various construction jobs. He worked in construction at Penn State College while his two sisters were students there. He became friends with Reginald Exley, visited the Exley family in Fairview where he met Margaret (Peggy) Exley. They were married in 1940 and lived on the Ridge Road, within view of Erie Airport. They moved to Fairview and lived in the Sturgeon House on the corner of Rt. 98 and Water Street. In 1947 they moved to Dorothy Road off Avonia Road. Harold was a crane operator at Erie Foundry Company in Erie. He loved to fish and hunt and work on tractors and bulldozers. They raised seven children: Joan, Sandra, Judith, Ronald, Diane, Alice and David Foster. Harold had coronary heart disease and died in 1971 at the age of 57.
General Notes: Wife - Margaret Ruth Exley
MARGARET (EXLEY) "PEGGY" FOSTER died August 21, 2005 at the age of 90. Over the past 15 years she wrote over 100 stories about her life and family. Her daughter Joan shared some of them at her funeral service, a few more have been added. We would like everyone to celebrate our mother's life as it was. The following are stories that she wrote. It helps us to remember the child she was and the person she became. These wonderful memories will always be with us.
Reflections, by Margaret (Exley) Foster
I always thought while growing up in the small town of Fairview that it was the best town in the whole wide world! The narrow main street was shaded on each side by huge maple trees. I remembered being in the shade all the way down to the end of the sidewalk and to the end of the paved road, which was Main Street. In the wintertime after a heavy snow and before school started a man named Strucher would clean the sidewalks. He would hitch up his old white horse to some strong wood planks and have the snow cleared away before the school bell rang. He kept his horse at the blacksmith shop on Garwood. We always told everyone that was why Fairview was called a "one horse town".
* * *
When I as a little girl, I would to ask my mother if I could brush her hair. In those days my mother's hair was black and long. When she let it down to be brushed it fell down to her waist. It was so shiny and smooth. I would brush and brush. Then she would say, "It's enough", then divide her hair into two braids and wind it about her head. Later on she started to get headaches from the weight of her hair. She asked my father to cut it, and he did. She quit having headaches. Her hair was short and no longer needed anyone to brush it for her. I missed those times, because I really did like to brush her hair and it made me feel a little closer to my mother.
* * *
Our first car in the 20's was a Winton touring car. I remember how excited Dad was when he bought it. I don't know if it was brand new or not. I guess that maybe it could have been new, because there weren't many cars in our neighborhood at that time. It had open sides, there were window flaps that snapped in place when it rained or snowed. The trips to Fairview from Bratenahl, Ohio seemed to take forever. I don't remember any other rides in the car because we lived within walking distance to Lake Erie, also the store and a few relatives who lived in the area.
* * *
I loved climbing trees when I was a young girl living in Fairview. Although I had two younger brothers who thought they were quite expert in climbing trees, I felt I was a good as they were. Down in the hollow, in a pasture not far from home, there were a lot of big towering trees. It was a wonderful feeling to climb to the top of a tree and look all over the place. One day while climbing one of the trees, my brothers started tormenting me, I climbed up higher than they were and I decided to teach them a lesson by wetting on them, even though I knew I was soaking my own clothes. I laughed and laughed at them as they scrambled down the tree and took off. I don't think they ever told our mother.
* * *
My brothers, Reggie and Bob were always looking for wild creatures to bring home. They knew I was a soft touch to care for them once they caught them. One time they climbed a tall tree and robbed a crow's nest and brought home five baby crows. They were all beak and feet, a few feathers and calling for food! Of course, I was to feed and care for them, which I did. I put them in a big box and fed them bread and milk. I gave away three of them and kept two who I called Jim and Joe. The boys clipped their wings at first. My father hated the crows. When he would plant the garden the crows would walk behind him and pull out the seeds he planted. Mother didn't like them either. The crows didn't like the ladies. When she had her garden club meetings the crows would walk around and pick at their feet. They knew where my bedroom window was and each morning would fly around the house and sit on my sill and make a racket, wake me up, then fly around to the back door where I fed them. Joe flew into the side of a semi-truck and died. Jim was scared away by a 12 year old relative who was visiting, he slept in my bedroom and frightened Jim away when he was making his morning wake-up call for me.
* * *
Before Fairview had a large school with an auditorium large enough for graduation exercises and other activities, the Presbyterian Church was the largest building in town that was available. Some musicals and plays were held there and were enjoyed by the town's people. I went to Sunday school at the church and later to church services which, when I was real young, I didn't appreciate. The minister, Rev. Reed's sermons were all "fire and brimstone" and when the congregation left after services they were thoughtful and quiet, not joyous and happy like they should be. Sermons I thought, should be based on love, forgiveness and hope. But I did join the Presbyterian Church when I married (my husband joined too).
* * *
One time when Harold, was at our house waiting for my brother Reggie, as they were going out together. I baked a couple peach pies, cream and meringue on them. I served some to Reggie and Harold. Later, months later, when I was dating Harold he said it was the peach pie that got him. Of course, he was kidding, but I was flattered. Harold and I were married March of 1940, in the manse at the Presbyterian Church by Rev. Wilson. I remember the smell of bread that the pastor's wife was baking in the kitchen and how refreshing that was, I was not hungry, just excited, happy, and nervous.
* * *
Following our marriage, we lived a year and eight months in a small three-room apartment on Route 20, just east of Asbury Road, in Millcreek. Our first daughter Joan was born while we lived there. We found a larger place in Fairview and rented the Sturgeon House. Sandra and Judy were born while we lived there. This was during World War II; my four brothers were all in the military. When the war ended we were happy when they all came home safe and sound.
* * *
We finally needed more space and wanted a home of our own. Harold found a cottage with two acres of land at Avonia. It was winter and snowing when we moved in five days before Christmas in 1947. We were cramped into a smaller space with our growing family of three girls and I was pregnant with our son Ronnie. We were optimistic with the prospects of making the house larger in time. The woods were dark, but would be shady and pleasant in the summer. We settled down and looked forward to the future. We were delighted the next May when Ronnie was born — the first boy.
* * *
When I was pregnant with Diane I shot a big rat off a stump beside the house. I didn't know how to load the rifle, so I waited for the milkman. When he came to deliver our milk. He loaded the rifle for me. I saw the rat through the porch screen and when it got up on the top of the stump, I shot it through the screen and emptied the rifle, I don't remember how many times, but the holes in the screen proved to Harold that I was a pretty good shot.
* * *
When Alice was born her older sisters enjoyed taking care of her. She loved to be carried around. She had naturally curly hair and dark eyes and always had a serious expression on her face.
* * *
At the age of 42 I was pregnant again and David was born, I was delighted with this new baby boy. I loved him dearly. We didn't have any problems with him. He crawled and walked as early as my other children. When David was a year old we found out that he had Downs Syndrome, it did not change anything, I always loved him as much as his sisters and his other brother. He has always been a link that keeps our family tight-knit. God gave him to us because we needed David to complete our family.
* * *
31 Foster Avenue - I never realized that this address was a sign of my future until many years had passed. While in my teens, I was shy and did not date much, my elderly aunt used to tell me "never mind, someday you will find someone you will really go for." I never really believed her. Then one day I met the man of my dreams, and I married him. We had a happy marriage, raised seven children, then he died in 1971. Suddenly I remembered my birthplace and a picture of the house, 31 Foster Avenue, Bratenahl, Ohio. (The house where I was born). I never realized what this all meant to me until then. The truth! God knew all along what dreams I had and made them come true. My married name was FOSTER and I was married 31 years to Harold. God took him away with a promise that some day we would be together again, and it would be forever.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH — Now that I am 86 my memory bank is running out of bucks and all that comes out is pennies.
Enough, Mother
A couple weeks before Mother died, she called to me and said. "Joan, I want to tell you something: "I am going to fly up like an eagle." I said, "What?" She said it again, "When I die I am going to fly up like an eagle." Then grinned and said "Now, you remember that I told you that."
At the church funeral service the bulletin cover had an eagle on it with the following message: "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles." Afterwards I asked the pastor if he had pre-arranged it. He said "No." The church secretary found the bulletins in the office cupboard and made them up.
Erie Times-News
Aug 22, 2005
Obituary - Margaret Ruth Exley Foster
Margaret Ruth Exley Foster Margaret Ruth Exley Foster, 90, of Fairview, died Sunday, August 21, 2005 at her residence. She was born in Bratenahl, Ohio, on May 25, 1915, a daughter of the late Reginald C. and Clara Merritt Exley. She was a homemaker in Fairview her entire life. She was a graduate of Fairview High School Class of 1933 and a 50-year member of Fairview Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed bird watching, scrapbooks and was active in doing creative projects and cooking. Beside her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Harold A. Foster in 1971 a daughter, Sandra K. Foster in 2003, a sister, Betty Petri, four brothers: Reginald C. Exley II, Robert J.Exley, Reginald C. Exley, Jr and William H. Exley. Mrs. Foster is survived by four daughters: Joan K. Fiesler and her husband Dave of Fairview Twp., Judith K. Enstrom and her husband Richard of Fairview, Diane K. Matz and her husband Lee of Fairview and Alice Foster of Fairview; two sons: David K. Foster of Fairview, and Ronald K. Foster of Williams, Ore., a sister, Hannah Jane Ploss of Millcreek, and a sister-in-law, Ann Exley, 15 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main Street East in Girard from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 on Tuesday and are invited to attend a service at Fairview Presbyterian Church on Wednesday at 11 am. Her pastor, Rev. Chuck Cammarata, officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Fairview Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 4264 Avonia Rd., Fairview, PA 16415.
1 Terrance L. Johnson-Cooney, The Exley Family 1789 to 2005 (Self-published, Aug, 2005), Pg 244.
2 Terrance L. Johnson-Cooney, The Exley Family 1789 to 2005 (Self-published, Aug, 2005), Pg 239.
3 Terrance L. Johnson-Cooney, The Exley Family 1789 to 2005 (Self-published, Aug, 2005), Pg 256.
4
Terrance L. Johnson-Cooney, The Exley Family 1789 to 2005 (Self-published, Aug, 2005), Pg 270.
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