Dortha L. Foster, a longtime resident of Orosi, passed away on the morning of Friday, March 31, at Kaweah-Delta Hospital in Visalia. She was 74.This is the obituary of my mother, which was published in the Visalia Times-Delta on April 2nd, 2000.
Dortha L. Foster
1925 ~ 2000
Dortha L. Foster, a longtime resident of Orosi, passed away on the morning of Friday, March 31, at Kaweah-Delta Hospital in Visalia. She was 74.
Born in Perryville, Arkansas, to Jack and Maude Rankin, Dortha ventured to California on her own at the tender age of 19, finding work as housekeeper to a Baptist minister and his family. She married her husband Raymond in the 1950s and they settled in the town of Orosi, where they spent the rest of their lives. Together they raised two children; daughter Diane Langley, who lives in Fresno with her own family, and son Robert Foster who currently resides in Monterey, California.
In addition to the full-time jobs of homemaker and mother, Dortha served her community for eighteen years as a teacher’s aide for the Cutler-Orosi Unified School District, at Cutler and Yettem Elementary Schools, from 1969 to 1987—handing down to the young students who attended during that time the same generous spirit and common sense wisdom she instilled in her own children. All of the youngsters whose lives she touched are now grown.
Dortha was also a lifetime member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Cutler, where her heart-driven generosity, honesty and compassion were a source of inspiration, strength and blessing to so many. Her life was an embodiment of those virtues, right up to its final moments.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond T. Foster, local builder and decorated W.W.II veteran, who passed away in 1980. Also preceding were three brothers; Bill Rankin of Orosi, Johnny Rankin of Orange Cove and Ted Rankin of Eugene, Oregon. Her mother Maude Rankin, who also lived in Orosi, died in 1988.
She is survived by one remaining brother, Carroll Rankin of Orosi; daughter and son, Diane and Robert; son-in-law Jim Langley; two fine grandsons, Todd and Matthew Langley; nephews Rev. Gary Rankin of Orosi, John Rankin of Orange Cove, Rev. Randy Rankin of Manteca and niece Carolyn Rankin of Visalia along with their respective families and many other relatives around the country who will no doubt be disappointed by the limited space of this tribute.
Interment was at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba, California.
Not goodbye, Mom, but just so-long—for we shall all meet again.
Proverbs 31: 25-31
Love, Your Family