Walter H. Foster: Swimmer, Swim Coach, Worked 33 Years, Retired 33 Years

Walter H. Foster, 93, died peacefully in his sleep, Friday, Aug. 9 at the Greenville Rehabilitation Center after a brief period of failing health, according to Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home.

Born in Providence, RI, Walt grew up in Graniteville. He was a 1937 graduate of La Salle Academy. He was the third of three children born to the late Albert B. and Lena (Roy) Foster. 

He was pre-deceased by his sister Doris Doyle and brother, Albert E. Foster, Sr. He was married to Margaret “Peggy” (Bowers) on September 1, 1947. They were life long residents of Glocester living at Waterman Lake and for the past 39 years at Sunrise Terrace on Keech Pond in Chepachet. He and his wife recently had moved to the Village at Waterman Lake.

He was actively involved in a number of different sports and outdoor activities. Swimming, sailing, canoeing, bicycling, water skiing on Waterman’s Lake and downhill and cross country skiing in Maine and New Hampshire with his children and grandchildren. At 14 years of age he swam 7 miles around Waterman’s to settle a bet for his father, who owned Foster’s Diner, which is now Chester’s in Harmony.

As a certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, he taught many children and adults to swim and was also the long time swim coach of the Rhode Island Aquatic Association Swim Team. He was a member of the Rhode Island Coaches and Officials and was a Special Award Inductee into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame in 2002.

In addition to teaching swimming, he also was a water safety instructor and taught canoeing for Providence Chapter of the Red Cross at Camp Tevya in Brookline, NH.

He retired from New England Telephone in 1979 as a construction planner. He was a life-member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. After working for “Ma Bell” for 33 years, he exceeded his goal of being retired at least as long as he had worked. He was happily and actively retired for 34 years!

He was a veteran of the Army/Air-Force as a radioman during WWII while serving in the Pacific. He belonged to the Graniteville Veterans and is remembered on the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., which he was able to visit in 2007.

He is remembered and loved by his children Brian Foster of Carrabassett Valley, Maine and Kathy (Foster) Winsor and her husband Bud Winsor of Swanzey, New Hampshire. He is also greatly missed by his grandchildren Ian Foster and his wife Ryann of Salt Lake City, Utah, Seth Foster of Willetts, California, Jeffrey Winsor of San Francisco, California and Gail Winsor of Dorchester, Massachusetts. He also recently was able to see (via Facetime) his first great granddaughter, Charlie Foster born to Ian and Ryann.

A Mass of Christian Burial to which relatives and friends are invited will be held August 31, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Eugene’s Church, Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI with a reception to follow at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the following: Graniteville WWII Veterans' Foundation, c/o Laura Charnley Panicucci, 1 Plantation Dr., Cumberland, RI 02864;St. Eugene’s Church, Putnam Pike PO Box A,Chepachet, RI 02814-0701 or La Salle Academy, Development Office, La Salle Academy 612 Academy Avenue Providence, RI 02908.