Orin F. Foster

A service to honor the life of Mr. Orin F. Foster will be 1 pm Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home with Rev. Thomas Rush and John Elliot officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. The family will receive friends from 5 pm until 7 pm on Monday, January 27, 2014 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. Born May 20, 1925 in Port Arthur, Texas, and lived most of his life in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Orin was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Anna Fern Wood Foster, parents Mollie and Felix Foster, sister Marcie Foster Cooley, brother Buddy George Foster. Orin is survived by three daughters, Mimi Stoker and husband Chuck, DeeDee Perot and husband Clint of Natchitoches, Kathryn Smith and husband Victor of Springdale, Arkansas and one son, Craig Foster and wife Janet of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, eleven grandchildren, Karyn Matheson, Nicole Connell, Clint Perot, III (Scooter), Brant Perot, Kristopher Stoker, Christyn P. Matt, Kile Foster, Katy Moore, Lauren Brenaman, Allison Barnard and Deia Sanders, four in the Natchitoches area, four in MS, two in VA, and one in Springdale, AR and 20 great grandchildren. Mr. Foster is also survived by two sisters Dorothy Foster Wood of Moss Bluff, Felice Foster Fowler of Slidell, two brothers, Allen Foster of Georgia, and Bobby Foster of Arizona. Orin graduated as valedictorian of the 1942 class of Merryville High School, he received a BS and MS from LSU. His college studies were interrupted by the US Army where he proudly served as a 1st Lieutenant from 1944-1948 in the Infantry. After he returned from his military service he completed his BS at LSU and married Anna Fern Wood in 1949. He completed his Master’s Degree in 1956 at LSU. He began his career as a 4-H agent in Red River Parish, later transferred to Rapides Parish and in 1957 moved his family to Natchitoches Parish were he would live out his life with his wife and raise 4 children. As a 4-H agent Orin was at the top of his game leading many 4-Hers to receive state and national awards. Some of his most enjoyable times were spent with family and friends engaged in raising and exhibiting award winning livestock. He often enjoyed telling stories of trips and livestock shows he enjoyed with numerous 4-Hers and their parents. He also authored a book on the history of 4-H in Louisiana. In the late 1960’s Orin became a licensed Insurance Agent a career he would follow well in to his 80’s. He was one of three agents who founded the Charter Life Underwrites Association in Natchitoches and served as local and state President. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church and an active member of the Natchitoches Lions Club, serving as President for three terms; he also is a recipient of multiple Melvin Jones Fellowships. Orin also served Louisiana Lions as District Governor, Council Chair and President of the Louisiana Lions Children’s Camp. In 2010 he was honored to receive the International Presidents Award, for superior service to Lions International. That same year he was recognized as a Natchitoches Treasure, an honor he was extremely proud to receive from a city he dearly loved. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include: Clint (Scooter) Perot, III, Brant Perot, Matt Quinn, Jacques Matt, Bill Connell, and Josh Brenaman. Memorials in Orin's name may be made to the Louisiana Lions Camp, 292 L. Beauford Dr. Anacoco, LA. 71403 or to First Baptist Church of Natchitoches Building Fund, 508 2nd Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457.