Herbert St. Clair Foster, Jr.

CUMBERLAND – Herbert St. Clair Foster, Jr., born Oct. 17, 1929 in Portland, passed away peacefully at his home in Cumberland, at age 91, on Feb. 5, 2021 surrounded by his family. He joins his wife of 67 years, Hope Shain Foster, who preceded him in death in 2018.Herbert S. Foster, Jr., spent his first five years living on Peaks Island, then lived on Munjoy Hill in Portland, before moving to Cumberland in 1939. He lived in the same place in Cumberland since 1939, and married Hope Shain on June 16, 1951.He is survived by their children, Stan and his wife Betty, Steven and his wife Donna, Wendy Russell and her husband Dennis, Don and his wife Joanna, Suzanne Kennedy and her husband Mike; 13 grandchildren; 15 great- grandchildren; and a large extended family. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Lowell of Greensboro, N.C. and Jane Irish of Windham. Herb’s parents, Herbert S. Foster, Sr., and Lena Foster, preceded him in death.Herb graduated from Greely High School in Cumberland in 1947, where he played baseball and basketball. He attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston where he was conferred an Associate Degree in Mechanical Arts in 1950. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force, and was assigned as senior woodworker, with the 104th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Maine Air National Guard which deployed with the USAF Military Air Transportation Service, Wheelus Air Base, Libya. As a Senior Airman, he served from October 1950–1953 during the Korean War.His company, Foster Homes, Inc., built hand-crafted custom homes in southern Maine. He was a fastidious fine carpenter who insisted on exceptional attention to finish detail.Herb was among four generations and a life member of the Cumberland Fire Department, as Engine 3 lieutenant. The Cumberland-North Yarmouth Lions honored him as 2019-2020 Lion of the Year, a recipient of their Life-Time Achievement Award, and he was a Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow. He was a long-time member of the Cumberland Historical Society, and a patron the Prince Memorial Library. He was also a proud member of the Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.Herb was particularly passionate about his vegetable garden, espaliered orchard, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a booster and ardent fan of the Greely girls’ basketball team.The family wishes to thank Southern Maine Hospice. A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane in Yarmouth. Please visit http://www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign Herbert’s online guest book. A celebration of his life will be held at a date and time to be determined, post-pandemic.In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the: Prince Memorial Library or: Firefighters for Kids c/o the Cumberland Fire Department