A funeral service will be held on Thursday for Raymond L. Foster Jr., Locust Street, Masury, Ohio, who passed away at 6:51 a.m. Saturday (12-18-10) in St. Elizabeth's Hospital. He was 45.

Raymond was born on October 26, 1965 in Sharon, the son of Raymond and Nancy Bulick Foster. He attended Badger Schools.

Raymond enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While serving with the Army, he was an Encryption Specialist and received the following Medals and decorations; Army Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Marksman Badge (M16), and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged on June 13, 1986.

An outdoorsman, he loved hunting, camping with his family and friends, canoeing, riding his ATV, and simply walking in the woods.

Raymond was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle who loved his family dearly and he will be sadly missed by all who loved him.

His wife the former Viola Marie Black, whom he married on July 7, 1990, survives at home with his two children Raeschelle Leigh Foster, and Raymond L. Foster the III. He is also survived by his mother, Nancy Jo Brush, Burghill, Ohio, his father, Raymond L. Foster, a sister, Erica Frantz, both of Galloway, WV, a sister, Juanita Jo Gera and her husband Bradley, Mercer, two brothers, Edward J. Garlock, Burghill, and William M. Garlock and his wife Joyce, Atoka TN, his mother in law, Shirley J. Black, two sisters in law, Eunice Foraker and her husband Joseph, Sharon, and Carol Serrecchio and her husband Michael, Austintown, Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, a niece Megan Lang, a stepfather, Robert G. Brush, and his father in law, Carl Black Jr.

In memory of Ray, anyone wishing to make monetary donations in his memory may do so thru the funeral home office to establish a trust fund for his children's education.

Calling hours: 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday (12-22-10) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon.

Condolences may be sent to his family by visiting the web site www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com

Services: A funeral service will be held on Thursday (12-23-10) at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. John M. Trojak, pastor of First Baptist Church, Sharon, officiating.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Hermitage with Full military honors provided by the Honor Guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6233, West Middlesex; American Legion Post 432, Wheatland.