Dr. Tom F. Foster, Jr.

Dr. Tom Franklin Foster, Jr, 92, passed away on Friday, May 12, 2023 at home surrounded by his family.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Central United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Tom Latimer and Rev. Andy Langford, with burial to follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Wilkinson Funeral Home.

The service will be live-streamed at the following link: Central UMC YouTube

He was born November 13, 1930 to the late Tom Franklin Foster, Sr and the late Josie Slaughter Foster. He was preceded in death by his beloved sisters, Blanche Page and Glenna Steagall.

Tom grew up in Caswell County, NC on a dairy and tobacco farm. He delivered milk to neighbors and the nearby town of Yanceyville. He graduated from Bartlett Yancey High School in 1949. He then attended NC State College, now known as NC State University. He graduated in 1953 and has remained an avid NC State Wolfpack fan and attended Wolfpack football and basketball games until age 91. He married his childhood sweetheart, the late Jean Stephens Foster, in 1953. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1957. He moved his family to Concord, NC where he opened Foster Animal Hospital on October 1, 1958. He served his community tirelessly for over 60 years. Many people remember “Dr. Tom” fondly. After the death of his first wife of 34 years in 1988, he met another special lady, Janet Walker Royal, and they were married in 1990. They recently celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. He was an active member of Central United Methodist Church for many years. He loved the North Carolina mountains and enjoyed spending time in Boone, NC. He loved traveling the United States, especially out west.

Dr. Tom is survived by his wife, Janet Walker Foster, of Concord; sisters Jean Gwynn (Bill) of Hickory, Marie Jordan (Gene) of Reidsville; children, Joanna Cagle (Rick) of Concord, Kathy Ross (Brian) of Concord, Steve Foster (Joanna) of New London and Curt Foster (Tonya) of Charlotte; step-children Marcus Royal (Brenda) of Boone, Shanon Sturgill (Randy) of Wilkesboro and Rebecca Nelson (Sonny) of Taylorsville; grandchildren, Jessica Jones (Justin), Amy Barnes (Taylor), Brittany Ross, Scott Ross (Amanda), Amanda Ross, Katie Isenhour (David), Annie Foster, Sarah Hittie (Ryan), Thomas Foster, Joshua Foster (Laura), Brandon Foster (Sydney), Nicholas Foster; step-grandchildren, Edie Royal, Drew Ward (Lindsay), Bethany Walton(Nathan), Tara Caruso (Joe), Chris Bauguss (Tiffany); great-grandchildren Abigail, Ella, Cole, Eli, Clayton, Canaan, Ashlynn, Macie, Gemma, Gage and Talon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is grateful to Dr. David Frate, Dr. Robert Surratt and the staff of Ardsley Medical Center, Dr. Deanna Mangieri and the staff of Atrium Health Senior Care in Charlotte, Coltrane Life Center, Home Instead of Concord, Hospice of Lake Norman, and Concord Fire Station # 2 for their dedication and love to Dr. Tom.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coltrane Life Center, 321 Corban Av SE, Concord, NC 28025 or to Central United Methodist Church, Ruth Dollars, 30 Union St. N, Concord, NC 28025.