Mr. Gay Edward Foster 88 a resident of the Van Allen Nursing Home since August of this year, a former resident of Stratford and Dolgeville, died Wednesday November 21, 2007 at the nursing home. He was born in Rome, New York on September 4, 1919 the son of Curtis and Stella (Rice) Foster. When the family moved to Stratford, Gay and his brother Eldon attended Stratford Central School. A veteran of WW II he served honorably in the Army from January 1943 until he was discharged on October 12, 1945 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served with the 728th Ordnance Company in Central Europe, including Ardennes, Rhineland, Normandy and Northern France. He was awarded the following medals for his service, the EAMETO Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. While home on leave in August he married his school sweetheart the former Evelyn Helterline on August 2, 1943 in the Salisbury Center Methodist Parsonage. Mrs. Foster predeceased him on August 5, 1990. Prior to the war Gay was employed by the Remington Arms Company of Ilion and he was able to use those skills during his Army service. Upon returning home after the war he went to work at the family business, the Helterline Lumber Company of Stratford. He retired from there with 30 years of service. Gay and his wife Evelyn enjoyed exploring and studying the natural environment with his family and friends. They both had a passion for New York State history, especially in Central New York. He personally enjoyed collecting mineral specimens and was a member of the local Mineral Club. He also was a member of the American Legion Post, the Salisbury & Stratford Historical Society, the National Geographic Society and was a faithful member of the Stratford Methodist Church. He is survived by his Son and his wife Mark and Robin Foster of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a Daughter and her husband Gail and Thomas Bromley of Prescott, Arizona, His Granddaughter and her husband Kristin and Bowman Wang of Ben Lomond, California, and his Grandsons Chad and Brent Foster both of Charlotte, North Carolina, two nieces Linda Helterline of Stratford and Jane Malin of Salisbury Center. The family is extremely grateful to the many wonderful people in Dolgeville and at the Van Allen Nursing home for the help and assistance they afforded Gay during the last years of his life. A Memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family at a time and date to be announced. There are no calling hours. Memorials in his name may be sent to the Stratford Methodist Church Memorial Fund.