Mr. Ralph Edward Foster, the son of the late McDowell and Sallie Pope Foster, was born November 8, 1952, in Catawba County. He departed his life Thursday, September 14, 2023, after a lingering illness at the age of 70 years old.
He was a member of Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church. He graduated from Claremont Central High School in 1971 and went on to attend Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. He was employed at Hickory Daily Record for 26 years and retired from Getrag Corporation Manufacturer in Maiden, North Carolina.

Ralph was a very humble, kind, loving, and affectionate man. He was also giving and loyal. Ralph never met a stranger, and he instilled this into everyone he knew. He was known for his extraordinary skill as a mechanic, his many talents gave him the ability to fix almost anything. However, his most coveted title was given by his beloved nephews as, "The Reigning King of Bowling".

Ralph was preceded in death by his brother; Harvey Foster; and sister Altheria (Ronald) Rowe.

He is survived by Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel (Rose) Foster of Knoxville, Tennessee, Mr. and Mrs. McDonald (Judy) Foster of Newton, North Carolina, Mr. Algeria Foster of Newton, North Carolina, and Ms. Betty Foster of Orange, New Jersey.
He leaves to cherish his loving memory his wife, Alice Nixon Foster; five children, Steven Foster of Hickory North Carolina, Thomas (Anthony) Foster of Charlotte, North Carolina, Tarrel Foster, Natasha Foster both of Hickory, North Carolina, and Keyanna Foster of Charlotte, North Carolina; two grandchildren Talia Hanes and Clifton James; a brother in-law Thomas (Shirley) Nixon of Hickory, North Carolina; three sisters in-laws; Pruella Nixon and Evelyn Nixon both of Hickory, North Carolina; Gail Gibbs of Newton, North Carolina and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation:

Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 1:00pm at Walter Gladys Memorial Chapel of Dirk M Thompson Mortuary
147 5th Street Court SE
Hickory, NC 28602

Celebration of Life:

Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 2:00pm at Walter Gladys Memorial Chapel of Dirk M Thompson Mortuary
147 5th Street Court SE
Hickory, NC 28602