Frank R. "Bud" Foster
Help us celebrate Frank! Please share your stories and photos, and invite others who remember Frank.
Frank "BUD" Foster formally of Bernardston, Ma passed away in Phoenix, Az at the age of 100 leaving quite a legacy of a full life.
Bud was born to the late Frank R Foster and Lula Bardwell Foster in Leyden, Ma on May 22, 1920 moving to Bernardston at the age of 3.
He always called himself a church kid and loved to sing.
Bud went to Powers Institute in Bernardston and than on to Mt Hermon School. He started being a business man very young being co-owner of the Mt Hermon School Student store. He then decided to go out on his own and founded FOSTER'S in 1941. The business started small and kept expanding until he moved
to Conway and Allen Streets in Greenfield, Ma as FOSTER"S SUPERMARKET. His two grandsons bought the business January 2006 and are still going strong. He always did his own commercials on the radio. One being "Feesh, feesh, fresh feesh."
He was in the Army/ Air Force as a Top Gunner.
His accolades were many. He served the Town of Bernardston as moderator for a number of years, he was very active in the United Church of Bernardston,helping on serving many dinners and special occasions and always a major contributor to church singing. He as a member of the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis club of Greenfield where he organized the annual Kiwanis auction and was the auctioneer. Camp Kawanee was very special to him. He jogged, walked, enjoyed skiing, swimming and loved picking his fruit in the morning off Judi's trees in the backyard. His family was chosen as family of the year at Methodist Church. Bud was also the first Citizen of the Year designated by the Greenfield Recorder in 1985.
He interviewed in 1994 with Morley Safer for a 60 Minutes segment on small-scale retailing in a age dominated by larger stores like Walmart
Bud leaves his long time partner Judi Smith. He became a resident of Arizona several years ago. He also leaves what he called his Arizona family and will be fondly remembered by them.
He leaves his children Janie Deane of Bernardston, Ma, Ransom "Randy" Foster (Lynn) Northfield, Ma, Judith Pearsall (David) Sandwich, Ma and Jill Roth , Bernardston,Ma and his many many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Bud was a man of great integrity dedicated to his community both of Palm Lakes Village in Phoenix, Az and still with the Town of Bernardston, Town of Greenfield and the United Church of Bernardson.
He was precessed by his wife of 69 years June Streeter Foster, and his 8 sisters.
Due to COVID-19 a memorial will be at a later date at a time to be announced..
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the United Church of Bernardston, 58 Church Street, Bernardston, Ma 01337 or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St, Phx, Az 85014
Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave. Northfield, Ma. Is in charge of arrangements.
To send condolences please visit www.kidderfuneralhome.com.