Obituary

Elwanda Sarah Campbell Foster went to be with her Lord on Thursday morning, September 5, 2019 at The Forum at Overland Park surrounded by her family. She was born May 3, 1924 in Viola, AR to John Willie Campbell and Mary Jane Brison Campbell. She grew up in Arkansas. After graduating from Viola High School in 1943, she moved to Kansas City, MO. She married the love of her life, James Curtis Foster, on November 13, 1944 at the courthouse in Kansas City, KS while Curt was on leave from the Navy during World War II. After their marriage, she traveled with him to San Diego, CA where he was stationed. After he was shipped out, she came back to Kansas City, MO. She worked at TWA and Pratt Whitney during the war. After the war ended and Curt came back home, Elwanda started her sewing career. She worked for H.D. Lee making overalls and jeans. Later she worked at Mendel’s ladies’ apparel as a sample maker and then Brandon Puritan, where she retired for the first time. She later worked for the Lee’s Summit School District at Prairie View Elementary School in the cafeteria for 10-1/2 years before retiring at age 73. She was a devout Christian and always active in her church. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit at the time of her death. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Eldon Foster; and her sister, Loreen Welch. She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Baker and her son-in-law, Allen Baker of Lee’s Summit, MO; her daughter-in-law, Ruth Foster, of Lexington, KY; six grandchildren: Aaron Baker and his wife, Cheryl of Pleasant Hill, MO; Jennifer Mabe and her husband, Matt, of Shawnee, KS; Gregory Baker and his wife, Wendy, of Shawnee, KS; Brian Foster, and his wife, Christy, of Owasso, OK; Karen Colbert and her husband, Jeremy, of Lexington, KY ; and Jeff Foster, and his wife, Erica, of Coral Springs, FL; 13 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Mayme Foster Dawson; and many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Elwanda’s memory to First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit or Ascend Hospice of Overland Park.