John Kennedy Foster, Jr.

John Kennedy Foster, Jr. 68, of 714 Alden St., Meadville, died Monday Feb. 21, 2005 at Meadville Medical Center following a sudden illness at home.  He had been in declining health for several months.

He was born in Pittsburgh, July 28, 1936, a son of John Kennedy & Anne Rose Foster, Sr. He married Doris Ann Redman June 11, 1960 and she survives.

John was a 1954 graduate of University School, Pittsburgh.  He received his undergraduate degree in 1963 from George Washington University, and a Masters of Arts degree in 1973 from Allegheny College, Meadville.

He served in the U. S. Army with the Military Police from 1957 to 1961, stationed in Arlington, VA.

He was a geography teacher at Meadville Area Junior High School for 30 years, retiring in 1998.  He was a Past President of the Crawford Central Education Assn. and was a life member of the PA State Education Assn.

He had been awarded the Geography Educator of the Year by the National Council of Geographic Education.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Meadville, a volunteer with Crawford District, French Creek Council, Boy Scouts of America, and had been honored with the scout’s Silver Beaver Award.  He had also been an assistant scoutmaster with troop #244 of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a life member of the National Rifle Assn.  He was a member of the Iroquois Club of Conneaut Lake, Essayists of Meadville, and the Allegheny Country Club and the Stonedale Guns of Sewickley Heights.

He was an avid traveler, having traveled in North America, Europe, and Asia, and enjoyed spending his summers at the family summer home in Canada.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 44 years, include 2 sons, John Kennedy Foster, III of Pittsburgh and Edward A. Foster and his wife Mary Likis Foster of Beaufort, SC; 2 granddaughters, Katherine Anne and Elizabeth Estes Foster; 1 brother Donald R. Foster and his wife the Rev. Pamela L. Molte Foster of Wareham, MA; a brother-in law and sister-in-law, Edward & Abigail Redman of Morganton, NC; his farther-in-law, Edward G. Redman of Meadville; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

A funeral service will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 890 Liberty St., Meadville with the Rev. Dr. Brian Jensen officiating.

Memorials may be made to The Boy Scouts Tribute Fund, French Creek Council, BSA, 1815 Robinson Rd. West, Erie, PA 16509.