In memory of mom

Marbeth S. Foster, 76, of Woolrich passed away surrounded by family on March 20, 2008 after an extended battle with aplastic anemia. She was born May 7, 1931 in Mahanoy City PA to the late Wayne and Gladys Stitzer. She graduated from Mahanoy City High School in 1949, and she married William H. Foster on March 21, 1959. Marbeth and Bill lived in Reading PA prior to moving to Woolrich in 1960, when Bill accepted a faculty position in the art department at (then) Lock Haven State College.

Marbeth's accomplishments and involvement in the lives of those around her and in her community are too numerous to list. Her most important "projects" were her children, Rebecca, Christopher and Kenneth. Prior to their arrival, Marbeth earned a Registered Nurse degree from Hazelton State Hospital in 1952 and worked as a nurse at Shenandoah State Hospital and later as a private duty nurse. While raising the children, she served in many volunteer capacities at Akeley School, Lock Haven High Schools, Lock Haven Faculty Dames, and Lock Haven Hospital Auxiliary, where she was especially proud to serve on their scholarship committee. She served on the Board of Directors for the Millbrook Playhouse; she and Bill spent many hours over the years helping at Millbrook in numerous valuable ways. She was also a "founding member" of the Foxy Ladies, a local group whose weekly meetings at Fox's Restaurant resulted in volunteer and fundraising efforts for several local organizations, primarily Millbrook Playhouse. From 1982 to 1992, she worked as the facilitor for the Homemaker Help Service for Clinton County.

Her friends and family will remember her as an energetic, caring person who never hesitated to help others. From feeding "starving artists" to cleaning muddy flood-wrecked homes and clothes, Marbeth was always there for everyone.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Bill; children, Rebecca of Pinckney MI, Christopher of Los Angeles CA, and Ken of New Orleans LA; son-in-law Bob Weisenberger and grandsons Vonn and Ryne; sister Barbara of Annapolis MD; brother John of Great Falls VA; and granddogs Brando, Zephyr, Sula, Rocky and Boo. She was preceded in death by brothers Wayne and Pete.

A celebration of Marbeth's life will be scheduled by the family at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lock Haven Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, 25 Cree Drive, Lock Haven PA 17745, Millbrook Playhouse, PO Box 161, Mill Hall PA 17751 (www.millbrookplayhouse.com) or the Sula Foundation, PO Box 3780, New Orleans, LA 70117 (www.sulafoundation.org),