INDIAN HEAD, MARYLAND - Willa Mae Raby Foster, 92, passed away of congestive heart failure on Dec. 9, 2020.
She was born in Cowee to Arvin Glenn Raby and Lottie Mae Saunders Raby. She was the widow of Maurice Eugene Foster.
Willa Mae is survived by her children, Maurice “Gene” E. Foster II, of St. Leonard, Maryland; Michael R. Foster (Sharon) of Edgewater, Maryland; Kathryn “Kitty” Cummins of Abilene, Texas, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Fitzgerald (Michael) of Amherst, Virginia, and Glenn P. Foster (Bobbie) of Indian Head, Maryland.
She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Glenn Raby Jr, (Junie) of Safety Harbor, Florida, John Raby, of Waldorf, Maryland, Mildred Weston, of Bryans Road, Maryland and Joyce Ann Harold (Bob) of Powhatan, Virginia; and sister-in-law Millie Raby of Indian Head, Maryland.
Willa Mae was predeceased by her beloved son Charles Gregory “Greg” Foster; brothers and sister, Charles Raby, Tracy Raby, Billy Raby, Gene Raby and Maureen Auer; daughters-in-law, Julia Foster and Sue Bowles Foster; and sons-in-law, David Cullinan and Leo Cummins.
Willa Mae was born in the hills of North Carolina and moved with her family to Maryland shortly thereafter. She was a survivor of the Great Depression, and was a teen during World War II. In 1945 she was 17, and a few months after the war was over, she eloped with her Gene – a marriage that lasted 64 years, until his death in 2010. Willa Mae continued with her high school education, was a pitcher for the fast pitch softball team and graduated from LaPlata in 1947.
Through the years they raised six children, and lived and worked in Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina. She joined bowling teams, and they attended innumerable baseball games. In 1992, after many years of awarded professional work with various federal government agencies in Virginia and DC, she retired and they moved “home” to her beloved hills of Franklin.
Always a beautiful woman who loved to dress well, have her “face” on and hair in place, Willa Mae fiercely loved family, politics and baseball. Her strong will and determination were amazing, as evidenced by her constant care for Gene for 10 years after his debilitating stroke. In these latter years debating politics was a favorite pastime (a diehard Democrat!), as well as watching ballgames and MSNBC on TV, so she could keep her mind sharp and “keep up with what was going on in the world.”
She passed into the next world peacefully with family holding her hand. We love her. Her chair is empty, and she will be greatly missed.
Pallbearers are Gene Foster III, Gabriel Fitzgerald, Michael Foster II, Bobby Raby, Wayne Wilkerson and Bradley Revoir.
Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, service and interment will be for family only at the graveside. The services will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Michael Fitzgerald, son-in-law.
Memorial contributions in Willa’s name may be made to The Purple Heart or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be left at raymondfuneralservice.com.