R.I.P. Richard Foster

PROVERBS…Raise up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it.

The summer of 1975 would be the beginning of a new paradigm, a new normal for a young couple whose farm was located on A.W. Wilson Rd.

We had married Aug. 4 th of ’72, and began to build a Christian Homestead, one day at a time.

Tom began to milk cows on Feb. 6 of 1974. I had taught Elementary Art in the Jonathan Alder Schools from ’72-’75. I had recently resigned my position, since our first child would be born in Nov.

Throughout our 48 years of marriage, we have given love and taught values and morals to quite a few outside of our family realm. The teacher in me has always wanted to touch hearts and change lives. My kind, simple farmer has always been a strong mentor for many young men, including his
own 3 sons.

Tom was outside painting the trim on our new free stall barn, as a young man rode his bike into the barnyard.

“Hey!” “Thought I’d come down and see what’s up with my neighbors.” “I live in the AG Land House across from Planks.” “They said that maybe you could use a hand with chores. By the way, your wife was my Art Teacher in the 6th grade.”

Our lives totally changed that day. We became parents, even before our first child was born. Richard Foster entered our lives and became our adopted son, in more ways than one.

It was so helpful to have an extra hand around the farm; not to mention a fun and useful addition to the family.

He was young, innocent, and raised in a somewhat of vagrant, non-Christian Family. His value system was a bit off the wall. However, his
sweet nature, sense of humor and hard work ethic were his best character traits.

My husband always said that he had two thumbs when it came to mechanics. His step-dad Col. Grampa, a legend when it came to help building our farm, was talented in that realm. However, Richard was gifted, when it came to mechanics…..and what a blessing that was to Farmer Thomas!

Beginning his Freshman year at Jonathan Alder in September, he came every night after school, learned to milk, and do the chores.

I’m a real people person! Thus, I was thrilled to have another guest at the dinner table. Besides, I loved to cook. He either feasted or put
up with my burnt fiascos! LOL!

Around the dinner table was when we loved, shared and taught one another. He heard prayer before meals and saw us go to mass every
Sunday. Christian values began to sneak into his personality.

Our first son, Joel was born on Nov. 9 th ’75. Rick was there to milk, do chores and become a big brother. He not only did the farm chores, but
jumped right in helping with the baby, changing diapers, and occasionally babysitting.

The blizzard of ’78 was a nightmare! Eighty mile an hour winds and 30 inches of snow; the freeways were at a standstill. Some vehicles were completely buried in snow!

Due to a miracle of God, we did not lose power in this drafty old farmhouse. However, farmer Thomas took the tractor down the road to pick up Rick and bring him back. He stayed with us almost an entire week without going home.

In those days, there were a lot of fence rows on the farms. The snow was so deep that people were driving snowmobiles right over the tops of the fences.

The blizzard hit on Thursday at 3a.m. By Sat., the milk truck needed to be able to get down our road. Thus, Tom and Rick dug out our driveways, and dug to the end of the road to Rt.42, the main highway. Praise God, we didn’t have to dump any milk.

Neighbors were going from house to house checking on one another. Good thing that we didn’t lose power. I was pregnant with our second child, and vacating on a tractor would have been difficult.

Into his Sophomore year, we began to guide him about future academia. Being young and naïve, with no direction from his family, there were no future goals. Other than wanting to drive a truck like his dad, he hadn’t thought much about a future career.

“With your gift as a mechanic, Son, you need to go to Tolles Tech School your Junior year. Get in the Mechanics Program and use that gift,” Tom Cutler insisted. The rest is history.

While attending Tolles, he used to relate all the exciting news of the day at dinner. We were always positive and encouraging; thus, he opened up to us about everything. We were the parents he trusted.

One night at dinner in his teasing way, Farmer Thomas asked, ”Do you have your sights on any hot chicks, Son?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. However….she’s Mennonite and wears one of them doodads on her head!” Tom and I laughed until we were blue in the
face!

“Hey Mr. Richard! Don’t knock it! I exclaimed. That means she’s a woman of faith, and raised in a great family!” You might want to look into this a bit more, but take your time.

His Senior year, he came to us and expressed the following: ”I want your opinion. I really want to go into a relationship with Ruth Ann. I think I’m going to start going to her church. What do you think?”

I was silent for a moment. I could see the hesitancy in his eyes, as if he was again questioning me.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea….not a joke to get a girlfriend! I think it’s a wonderful idea if you want to join her church, build a faith, and join her family in worship.”

“You know how important our Christian Faith is to us. If you’re doing this just to get a girlfriend, you’ll not put your feet under my table ever again! However, if you’re doing this to build a faith and a new life, you have my blessing.”

His eyes were like saucers! Then he burst into a huge smile. ”Done deal, Ma. You know my heart after all these years.

He joined her church his Senior year and began to bring her to the house. We fell in love with Ruth Ann the minute we met her. She’ll make that boy’s life,” Tom commented; and she did.

He was baptized in her church, and became part of the community. They graduated in ’79 and by the summer of 1980, they were engaged.

Shortly after their engagement they surprised us with the following request. “It’s our hearts desire that you represent Richard’s parents
at the wedding”.

One Sat. in May 1981 Rick and Ruth Ann were married at United Bethel Church, Plain City, Ohio. GOD IS SO GOOD!

To know that we had touched his life; helped him to achieve not only a career, but also a deep Christian Faith, was a Mother’s dream.

Upon high school graduation, he began to work for West Jefferson plumbing. After a few years of married life, his heart desired more.

He was blessed to acquire a good job in Cincinnati, as a mechanic.

They raised 4 beautiful children: Adam Shawn, Sara, and Christopher. Ruth Ann worked in Home Health Care, as she home schooled the children.

Richard soared at his job until an unfortunate accident, caused him to go on
permanent disability.

However, even with the unfortunate surgeries that followed, he still found time to be a great father and husband.

As I look back, Tom and I giving him a role model of faith, was life changing for him. Had he not had the faith and strength of his wife and church family surrounding him, he would not have survived the death of his eldest son.

Six years ago, Adam was killed in a construction accident. The strength of their faith carried them during that time of trauma.

Last fall, I had the best visit with Rick and Ruth Ann. I was invited to her sister’s house for lunch. We laughed, talked of old times, before they departed for Cincy.

“Life has been good to that young man,” I thought. Ruth has been such a blessing to him.”

That was the last time that I saw him healthy.

In Feb. Ruth called me with the news. ”Mama, your boy has cancer. He’s not going to do any treatments with all of the other suffering he’s been through.”

My heart was in my stomach.

I talked with Ruth every week, trying to stay in the loop.

Being a Cincinnati Girl, I decided that it was the time to make a trip home. On March 7th, Tom and I visited Hospice to see our adopted son.

It was a great visit, despite the pain that he was suffering. We laughed and talked about all the wonderful times that we spent together.

When Richard came to us he was 15. We were 25 and 26. A lot of growing occurred between all of us as a family.

In the midst of our conversation, Rick stated to me, ”I’m ready to go to heaven, Ma. Pray for me.”

It was one of the most difficult departures I’ve ever done. He was crying. I was crying. I held both of his hands and said, “I love you, Son, but remember Jesus loves you more.”

My God has a tremendous sense of humor. God took Richard home on Easter Monday….the day after the resurrection.

WHY? St. Peter called God the Father and said, “Hey Pops! I’m having a terrible time with these Pearly Gates. One is off it’s hinges, and the other is squeaking like crazy. Can you send me an expert. That guy from Massy Ferguson didn’t know what the heck he was doing!”

AND GOD THE FATHER PONDERED A MOMENT…THEN GOD LAUGHED..

“OK…Get Foster up here ASAP…he’ll solve all of your problems.”

Thank you for touching our lives, Son. We Love you….enjoy heaven.

HEAVENLY FATHER: Thank you for the gift of Richard and Ruth.

Sue Cutler
Fearless Faith