Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama

Subject: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: wordfella
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 11:07 AM

I learned via Ruth McLain on Facebook that Bill Foster has died. Does anyone have details?

Bill was a hell of a guy.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: wordfella
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 11:22 AM

Florence Times-Daily

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 11:50 AM

He didn't post on the 'Cat very often but rereading his posts is a treat. RIP Bill

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 12:12 PM

Aw damn......Below is my FB posting but I got to tell ya'.....Bill was a really wonderful man. I valued many a late night messaging exchange over subjects not always in favor on the 'Cat. He was a fine musician of course but also had lived a life so full it seemed impossible for one man to do. He was also private and upon occasion shared things he asked me not to repeat. I didn't and I won't.

FB posting:

Bill and I had become friends on the internet and I will always value those conversations. We had a number of shared experiences and a love for music and the Appalachians. He had quit posting at The Mudcat Cafe as he was weary of the bickering and I can't blame him for that. He would come back occasionally, just dropping by, and always sent me a note. He was 10 years younger and as a young man had been an extra on the Davy Crockett movies. I was a fan of those same movies and loved the pictures he sent me. Intelligent, talented, and a warm, beautiful, humane, human being. We are all diminished by his passing. My most heartfelt condolences to his family who were so very important in his life. I always wanted to make it to Norris Dam during the fest.

One of the conversations that tied us together early on was a discussion here about children's graveyards. It showed me the heart of the man.....and it was large.

Thanks Bill.......................


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 01:37 PM

Can somebody link to a list of his postings?

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: Janie
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 03:09 PM

I never had a personal exchange with Bill. Although he did not post that often, his posts were always enlightening and/or entertaining. His was a presence on Mudcat that added value to this community in more ways than one.
My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

May many celebrate a life well-lived.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 03:16 PM

Bill in Alabama posted very little here in recent years, and I wondered what happened to him. Back in the early years of Mudcat, he was around a lot, and always added cheer and wisdom to our discussions. He was a good man. May he rest in peace.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 03:41 PM

Hi did post to say he was here for music and didn't like the bickering. I wish he'd been here more and the bickerers had left, but that's how the world works.

I didn't know what else he'd done until I read the Obituary wordfella linked to. I think many of us have missed him, even if we were only aware something that used to be clear and bright was gone. It got dimmer here, and now everything's dimmer.

Thanks to wordfella for letting us know, thanks to Spaw for being his friend and your kind words. My condolences to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 03:51 PM

I should say that the bit about bickering was my interpretation of

"I pass through once in awhile. I'm interested mostly in the folklore and music of America, I don't find much of that around here anymore, but I still check in and hang out occasionally. Anne and I are still performing a bit."

Seems it was more about what was NOT here than what was. My apology.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 04:19 PM

It was a combination Jeri, or at least that was my take. I won't post the entirety of this long message because parts are personal, but he did say this:

"I'm not avoiding or boycotting Mudcat; I just didn't feel comfortable there anymore--I didn't really belong. And I have never been one to stay where I didn't feel welcome. I reckon I'll pass through occasionally, but no one will know it, and there a few folks I'll probably keep in touch with through personal messages: You, Dale Rose, bbc, and others, and there are certainly no hard feelings towards anybody at the Mudcat. But things change, and when I began to feel like a bastard at a family reunion, I figured it was time to move along and look for a community where I fit in. If, in your opinion, I might ever be able to contribute anything of value to anything that comes up on the forum, I hope that you'll feel free to drop me a line and fetch me back for a minute. I have 'most always enjoyed your contributions, and I'll miss reading them daily. Enough of that--I'm getting maudlin, and I promised myself that I was not going to make any farewell speeches. I will probably wait awhile before I ask to be removed from the Mudcat Resources page, as I don't want to make an issue of leaving."

Bill wasn't by any means singly focused though as he enjoyed much of the banter and humor too.

"Thanks again for the idea of the photo album, too. I really enjoyed everyone's photos, and I spent some time this evening going through old photos. I found some of some of my ancestors who could pass for Cletus and Buford, except that their names were Rufus and Garland!"

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Sep 12 - 09:43 PM

But I am still looking for the missing verse of the song he asked me about!

RIP Bill. If you hear it sung up there please drop me a note!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 04:20 PM

I am truley saddened by this news. We had a few, lovely pms back when. I didn't know all of the stuff about him besides uni and music. what a wonderful person.

My condolences to all who knew him.

kat

thanks, wordfella for letting us know.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 12:26 PM

I'm going to bring this back up a time or two because there are still some others from back then who still hang around like myself.

I mentioned Norris Dam.......Every year the Museum of Appalachia has a festival filled with music and many family bands and Bill's family had a good one. When there they stayed in a cabin a few miles away at Norris Dam staying in the same one every year and having Grandpa and Ramona Jones as neighbors. John Hartford was another performer there for many years. Karen and I spent a week down there and always wanted to make the festival but like most other things, we have never made it.


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bill in Alabama
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Sep 12 - 12:54 PM

HEre's a nice, full, obit from his local paper..............

Dr. Bill Foster, age 73, of Florence, passed away Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, at Christ Chapel, from 5-7 p.m. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will follow at 7 p.m. at Christ Chapel with Pastors Doc Shell and Jimmy Hayes officiating.
Charles William Foster grew up in the mountains northeast of Chattanooga, not far from Daisy, Tenn. He is the sixth generation of his family to be born in the Appalachians.
He received his baccalaureate degree from the University of Chattanooga, his master's degree from East Tennessee State University, and his Ph.D from the University of Alabama, specializing in linguistics, American literature, Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, and American folklore and African-American fiction.
He taught geography and English at Hixson High School in 1961 and 1962. He taught at East Tennessee State University for one year and the University of Alabama for five years. He was a field worker for the Dictionary of American Regional English, and was a founder and co-editor of the Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States. He has written numerous articles for learned journals in linguistics and folklore, chapters in two books on African-American Charles W. Chesnutt, and has also written an award-winning 10-week documentary series for Alabama Public Television.
Dr. Foster served in the National Guard for nine years, involving him in American history events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Governor Wallace's stand in the door at the University of Alabama and the Selma-to-Montgomery March.
From 1975 to 1995, Dr. Foster, with his wife, Anne, and their children, Melissa and Will, traveled the United States as the Foster Family String Band, appearing on national television and on national public radio and averaging 40 weekend concerts per year in 30 states. Their performances included appearances on programs with Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Doyle Lawson, The Osborne Brothers and Bill Harrell.
For five consecutive years the Foster Family was named String Band of the Year at the Bluegrass Music Award Ceremonies in Nashville. One of their awards, along with one of Dr. Foster's banjos, is on display in the museum section of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The Foster Family was a featured group in the memorial service for Alex Haley (Roots and Queen) at the Museum of Appalachia in 1992.
In addition to his musical work, Dr. Foster has been featured on several Alabama Public Television documentaries, and has appeared in several motion pictures, such as Walt Disney's "Light in the Forest," "The Great Locomotive Chase" and two Davy Crockett films. He has also been featured as a stand-up comic at the Festival of Appalachian Humor in Berea, Ky.
The University of Illinois Press recently released a definitive work entitled "Country Music Humorists and Comedians," which features photos and an in-depth interview with Professor Foster.
Dr. Foster was a college teacher in Alabama for 44 years, 39 of which were spent at the University of North Alabama, where he served as chair of the Department of English for 31 years. He also served UNA at various times as chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and director of the Center for English Language Learning.
He retired on Aug. 1, 2007. Dr. Foster is also the proud grandpa of Nicholas and Cody Foster.
He and Anne celebrated 50 years of marriage on March 24, 2012.
At Dr. Foster's request, In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Loaves and Fishes, a ministry of Christ Chapel in Bill's name. Christ Chapel, 3051 Cloverdale Road, Florence, Al, 35630.
Elkins Funeral Home of Florence would like to invite you to sign the online registry at www.elkinsfh.com.


Spaw

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesdaily/obituary.aspx?n=charles-william-foster-bill&pid=159805550