Ruth I. Foster Part 1

Loss leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Ruth Irene Foster passed away, on November 29, 2010, at the age of 95 in Des Moines, Iowa. The loss touches people in every conceivable walk of life from laborer to statesman.

Born in Adair County, Iowa on March 6, 1915 to Clyde and Rachel Archer, Ruth lived her life in Iowa, but made the world her home. Education was Ruth’s life calling and in 1934, at the age of 18 she embarked on her teaching career in a one-room school house in Adair County, Iowa. During that time she met the love of her life, David Foster, and they were joined in marriage on June 30, 1938. At that time in our nation’s history married women were prohibited from being teachers. In 1942, during World War II, the laws changed and she was able to again pursue her dream of being a teacher. Ruth’s teaching career spanned six decades; Teacher Polk County Schools 1942–54, Teacher Des Moines Public Schools 1954–85, Student Teacher Supervisor Iowa State University 1985–2002.

Ruth received her Bachelor’s of Science from Drake University in 1954 and Masters of Science from Drake University in 1962. She completed post graduate work at the University of Iowa and University of Southern California.

Ruth’s passion and dedication to education benefited the many organizations and associations with which she was affiliated: The National Education Association (NEA), District President of the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), American Business Women’s Association, Past National President of Kappa Kappa Iota, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Des Moines Education Association (DMEA), Cadre-Teachers Central District Iowa State Education, Teaching Triad Classroom Teacher Conference University of Oklahoma, Education and Certification Committee for the Iowa Department of Public Instruction, Iowa Professional Teaching Practices Committee, Teaching Staff Models Teaching National Teachers Corps Instruction, Regional Coordinator for the National Survey for Pre-Service Preparation Teachers National Center for Education Statistics, National Counsel for Accreditation of Teacher’s Education, Co-Chair of the Teacher Planning Time Committee, Des Moines Staff Development Committee, Des Moines Long Range Planning Committee, and the Des Moines Talented and Gifted (TAG) Advisory Committee. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and served as Republican Precinct Committee Woman.

Ruth worked diligently to mentor new teachers, improve pre-service programs and enhanced instructional and professional development components of the DMEA. In recognition of Ruth’s many contributions to the DMEA, ISEA, and the NEA, the Executive Board of the DMEA created the Ruth Foster Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to one educator who has demonstrated service and leadership in a variety of DMEA, ISEA, and/or NEA positions and activities. She was also a recipient of the Living Memorial Scholarship for Delta Kappa Gamma, and the first recipient of the DMEA Ruth Foster Award, was named in the 1974-75 World Who’s Who of Women, and named in the 1974-78 Who’s Who of American Women.

(Obituary continued as Ruth Foster Part 2 on www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com)

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