Robert Foster Obituary

Robert H. 'Bob' Foster, loving husband, father and grandfather

FRIENDSHIP - Robert H. "Bob" Foster, 83, of 6263 Foster Road, Friendship, passed away Wednesday (July 30, 2025) at Jones Memorial Hospital, after a lengthy illness.

Born July 26, 1942, on the family farm in Friendship, he was a son of Clifton and Genevieve Sweeney Foster. On Aug. 2, 1969, at Our Lady of Angels Church, Cuba, he married the former Diane P. Appleby, who survives.

Bob was a graduate of Friendship Central School. He then served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68.

After serving in the army, he became partners with his father on the family farm, and later purchased his father's share in 1972. Bob also worked as a machinist for Butler Larkin in Wellsville, and later retired as a laborer from LC Whitford Co. in 2004.

His life was rooted in the values of hard work, family, love and the land he cherished. Get togethers with family and friends were always special to him.

Bob was a member of Sacred Heart Church and Our Lady of the Angels Church, the Friendship American Legion Post 1168, Friendship Rod and Gun Club and the Farm Bureau.

His love for farming was evident through his involvement as a mentor and 4-H Leader for 40 years and through memberships in numerous milk co-ops and the Ayrshire Breeders Association.

He enjoyed hunting and showing cows at the local, state, and All-American Dairy Shows. His involvement afforded him the opportunity to showcase what he loved about farming. Bob was awarded the National FFA Dairy Showmanship Competition Award and the NYS FFA Empire Degree.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, Diane, he is survived by his children, Mary (Dean) Burrows of Cuba, Robert (Jennifer) Foster of Friendship, Rebecca (Michael) Lyman of Black Creek, Melissa Holcomb and Michael Foster both of Friendship; his grandchildren, Elizabeth (John), Jennifer (George), Natalie, Blake (Cami), Taylor, Bentley, Tinsley, Ashley, Emily and Morgan; great-grandchildren, Carter, Magnolia and Aspen; two sisters, Ellen Enloe of Arcadia, Calif. and his twin sister Regina Park of Sun City Ariz.; several nieces and nephews; a brother-in law, Paul (Barb) Appleby of Arcade; three sisters-in-law, Pam Foster of Friendship, Bette Foster of North Carolina and Linda Appleby of Cuba; and a son-in-law, Michael Holcomb.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings, Richard, James (Nora Lee), Gerald (Dorothy) and Raymond Foster, Elizabeth (Hurford) Storm and Margaret (Bob) Prescott; and brothers-in-law, John Park, Don Enloe, Robert and Roy Appleby.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 3, 2025) and again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025) at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull St. Cuba, with a funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Deacon Frank Pasquale will be the celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Friendship.

Memorials may be made to the Friendship American Legion Post 1168 or to the Friendship Fire Department.