HOLDEN – Walter H. Foster Jr., born Nov. 2, 1919, in Belmont, Mass., made his transition March 20, 2007, at a Bangor hospital. Walter was a well-known appraiser and respected community leader. He attended Belmont Hill School, playing football, other sports and theater productions. Attending Harvard University, he joined the crew team, but left to join the Army Air Corps during World War II and trained bombardiers in Nevada and New Mexico. After the war, Walter received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry from the University of Maine and formed a farm in Lyndeborough, N.H., with his brother, Richard and tremendous support from his first wife, Hazel. They raised their four children there and he worked evening shifts at the local mill. Realizing farming was not as prosperous as it once was, he moved his family to Oakland, to be territory sales manager for Beacon Milling, an animal feeds company. He was the first contract chicken farmer in the state of Maine. He formed Sherwood & Foster, Inc., a woodworking business in Old Town leaving to become a real estate sales representative at Bangor Real Estate; then chief appraiser and real estate broker at James W. Sewall Co.; later joining J.F. Singleton Co. as sales manager and chief appraiser. At this time, he met Nedra Thompsom King and they have celebrated 30 years together. Walter became an owner and chief appraiser of American Heritage Real Estate when he and partners, James Stoneton and Dick Leblanc purchased the company, later adding a Coldwell Banker franchise. Highlight of this time in Walter’s life was the birth of another son, Timothy. A real estate broker since 1967 and 1972 graduate of the Realtor Institute. Appraisal courses were taken at University of Maine and Society of Real Estate Appraisers. Throughout his lifetime he attended appraisal and real estate seminars all over the United States and Canada. A qualified appraiser for a number of organizations, he appraised many types of real estate for a variety of clients. He also held a real estate license for 37 years. He was a member of the State Board of Property Tax Review, and former member and chairman of the Maine Real Estate Commission. He served many commissions and boards including Holden Board of Assessment Review. Numerous memberships included many professional and military associations. Walter was a certified residential specialist; National Association of Realtors Board; affiliate member of the Appraisal Institute; past president of Bangor Board of Realtors; life member of Maine Association of Realtors; past director, president and realtor of the year. He served as dean of the Tri-State Realtor Institute. Walter instructed University of Maine pre-licensing courses for Maine Real Estate Commission; seminars at Husson College and National Association of Realtors. A proud founding member of the Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club, he served on the board of directors in various capacities and was a Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient. Walter was an enthusiastic gardener for years, but ultimately lost a savage war with the local wild life. He was a talented woodworker and an avid reader, reading an average of a book a day. His greatest joys in life were his work, family, listening to Timothy’s latest adventures, his fellow Rotarians, which were like family to him, and reading his beloved booksWalter leaves his beloved wife, Nedra A. (Thompson) Foster of Holden; his dearly loved children, Walter Herbert Foster III of New Hampshire, Katherine Dall of Bowdoin, Stephen Foster of Florida, Banton Foster of Florida and New Hampshire, and Timothy Foster of Florida; several adored grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Doreen Thompson of Stillwater; a special sister-in-law, Randa Shirland of Holden; three brothers-in-law, Brett Thompson and his wife, Sandy, of Bowdoinham, Shawn Thompson and Michael Mooney, both of Portland; many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Walter was predeceased by his parents, Walter H. Foster and Gertrude (Sullivan) Foster; as well as a brother, Richard; and sister, Daphne. A funeral service will be held 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 23, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Robert T. Carlson officiating. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments immediately after the service Friday at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St. Those who wish to remember Walter in a special way may make gifts in his memory to his cherished Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club, P.O. Box 2471, Bangor, ME 04402-2471, or the Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401, or share a good book with a friend. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
WALTER H. FOSTER JR.
