Rev. Howard Foster
Columbiana

Rev. Howard Foster, age 70, of Columbiana, passed away Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016.

Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Columbiana Church of the Nazarene. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., with Rev. Brian Gilliam and Rev. Phillip Sessions officiating. Burial will follow in Williams Cemetery in the Kingdom Community. Bolton Funeral Home is directing.

Rev. Foster attended Shelby County High School, joined the Navy and served two tours in the Vietnam War, he returned to Columbiana to work at National Standard Steel mill. He received his pastor training through Trevecca Nazarene College. He also held weekly services as Prison Chaplain at Columbiana jail 1975-1994. He served one term as Shelby County Commissioner, then went on to pastor several churches before retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mary Foster; infant brother, Billy; twin sister, Helen Foster Lewis; and brother, Joe Foster.

Rev. Foster is survived by his beloved wife, Kay Foster of 47 years; son, Stephen Foster (Sarah); daughters, Michele Foster (fiancé, Grafton Farmer), and April Martin (Larry); nine grandchildren, Jared Gray, Dylan and Dalton Martin, Zoe Foster, Michael and Grayson Correro, Nick, Westley and Austin Farmer; sister, Sandra Foster Cantrell (Danny); and many nephews and nieces.

Family asks in lieu of flowers to please donate to Gideon Bibles https://www2.gideons.org/ or donate to the Shelby County Humane Society due to his love for dogs.

Rev. Foster continued to spread the gospel during retirement and failing health. His greatest desire was to share God’s word.

Please sign online condolences at Boltonfuneralhome.com.