Vesta Foster

Vesta R. Foster died Oct. 1, 2008, in Fort Collins. She was born Vesta Rowene Wood to Walter and Nannie Wood in Greensburg, Kan., on July 3, 1917. Her father was a superin-tendent of schools in Pratt and Junction City, Kan., and her mother a secondary teacher. Vesta lived through the Dust Bowl in Kansas, the Great Depression, World War II, the last half of the 20th and into the 21st century. She graduated from University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a BA in Music and Education and taught for several years in Englewood, Colorado public schools. She married journalist Wallace Denny Foster on Aug. 22, 1942, in Marceline, Mo. They had two daughters, Diane and Marty. The Fosters moved to Gunnison in 1948 as the new publishers of the Gunnison News-Champion. They later purchased The Courier, renaming their business Gunnison Newspapers, and incorporating an office supply store and commercial printing operation into the business. Vesta and Wally worked together in the business for 26 years and she accompanied him on many interesting journalistic trips and adventures, including leadership of Club 20 and the Colorado Press Association. They sold the business and moved to Fort Collins in the late seventies. In Gunnison, Vesta was part of the fabric of the community, known as an accomplished violinist, director of the Community Church Childrens' Choir and involved in musical events in town. She knew most residents and summer visitors and wrote "The Talk of the Town" column for many years. She was a member of AAUW and the Elk's Ladies. She loved to camp and take jeep trips with her family and appreciated the arts, fabrics and sewing. She played "non-cutthroat" bridge with the same laughing group of friends for many years. In Fort Collins she was active with PEO, the Fort Collins Women's Chorus for almost 30 years, and the Larimer County Republican party. She played in the first violinist section of the Colorado State University Orchestra well into her 80's. After Wally's death in 1990, she frequently volunteered as a docent for Lincoln Center performances, enjoying the diverse musical scene and her favorite classical programs. She pursued her love of travel, making many trips nationally and internationally. She is survived by daughters, Diane Curlette of Boulder and Marty and Jim Kassen of Pouce Coupe, British Columbia; and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Chaz Kristin Vaughan, Taylor and Chloe of Ventura, Calif., Wade and Lana Kassen, Stone and Delanie of Dawson Creek, BC, and Nicole and Owen Sheedy of Troon, Scotland as well many other relatives and friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Bohlender Funeral Chapel, Fort Collins. Donations in lieu of flowers should be sent to the Fort Collins Women's Chorus c/o Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 West Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.