Helen C. Foster

Helen (Koenig) Foster departed this world on Jan 26, 2017, in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 87, to again be with her pre-deceased husband and love of her life, Joe Foster. Helen was a diminutive woman under five feet tall, but family and friends have no doubt that her fierce independence and a great love for family and friends defied her small stature. As she would say when her children expressed glee at becoming taller, “You may be taller than me, but you will never be bigger than me”. That same love of family and friends, with a good helping of independence, lives on with her children.

Helen was brought into this world by her parents, Frank and Alma (Jenkins) Koenig, in Horton, Kansas on Jan 19, 1930. Helen was the second child to her four brothers and two sisters. After having moved with family to Amarillo, Texas as a child, she graduated from Amarillo (Texas) High School in 1947. Helen was swept off her feet in late 1947 by her future husband, Joe Foster, in what started out as a blind date. She later graduated from Amarillo College with an Associate of Applied Science in 1950, also receiving her School of Nursing Certificate from Northwest Texas Hospital. She wed Joe Foster in Aug 1950 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She became a Registered Nurse in September 1950.

Helen continued her long career as a Registered Nurse in many places throughout Arkansas and Texas, during which time she also enjoyed the challenge of being the Red Cross Chairman for Swisher County, Texas for two years. She and her family finally settled down in Okmulgee, Oklahoma in 1972. She retired from a Nursing career in the late 1970’s, taking on a second career to run the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Oklahoma State Tech in Okmulgee.

She received her BA in Psychology from Northeastern Oklahoma State University at Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1985, becoming a lifetime member of Delta Tau Kappa Social Science Society. She retired from Oklahoma State Tech in 1992. She felt the most satisfied in her role as a teacher for a new generation of Nurses. Helen enjoyed family, flowers, quilting, crocheting and renovation of an old house. She loved to read and work puzzles. She remained in Okmulgee after retirement until moving to Tulsa in 2015.

Helen is survived by her siblings, Frank Koenig, Jr. of Hooper, Nebraska; Bill Koenig (wife Irma) of Nashville, Tennessee and Marvin Koenig (wife Lourdes) of Amarillo, Texas.

Helen is survived by her seven children, J. Anthony Foster, Jr. (late wife Linda) of Ft Davis, Texas; Tamara Blount (husband Charley) of Ft. Worth, Texas; Kerry Foster (wife Sandra) of Gruver, Texas; R. Suette Freerksen (husband David) of Waxahachie, Texas; Nathan Foster (wife Martha) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Al Foster (late wife Sue) of Houston, Texas: and Vincent Foster (wife Elise) of Middletown, Connecticut. Helen is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Joe is certainly ecstatic to have Helen again at his side in Heaven to watch over us, but family and friends left behind will miss her always.

Viewing will be held from 5:00p – 8:00p, Jan 31, 2017 at Schaudt’s Funeral Services Okmulgee OK.

Service will be held at 2:00p, Feb 1, 2017 at Schaudt’s Funeral Services Okmulgee OK with interment following in the Okmulgee Cemetery.

The family has entrusted arrangements to Schaudt Okmulgee Funeral Service, 220 S. Alabama Ave., Okmulgee. Friends and family may leave condolences at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com

Flowers in remembrance for Helen are appreciated, as well as donations to any charity for Alzheimer’s research on behalf of Joe Foster.