Obituary of Elizabeth Gilmore Foster

Elizabeth Gilmore Foster, 90 Heaven is a better place now that Elizabeth is home with her Savior. Ninety years of youthful, vibrant, faithful, and loving living was followed by two months of old age. Elizabeth died Tuesday, December 30, 2008. A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 2, 2009, at Parkview Church. Memorial donations for a prayer garden can be made in her memory to Parkview Church. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at www.gayandciha.com. Elizabeth, affectionately called “Momgy” or “Mere”, was born to Rose and Septimus Duggleby of Spencer Iowa on January 27, 1918, (although that year was consistently fudged). She grew up in Spencer and attended Grinnell College. She taught school in Hayfield, Iowa and eventually began working for the FBI in Cleveland where she met and eventually married Jefferson Woodrow Gilmore. After numerous reassignments with the FBI, Elizabeth and Woodrow settled in New Orleans with their two children Julie and Jeffrey. Elizabeth began a long career in education beginning by working with special needs students. She earned her master’s degree and received appointments as assistant principals in both the middle school and high school level. She retired in 1977. Following Woodrow’s death in 1981 Elizabeth relocated to Iowa City following her son’s acceptance to the Senior Pastor position at Parkview Church. A class reunion at Grinnell College eventually led to the marriage of Elizabeth to a college sweetheart Walter “Wally” D. Foster March 13, 1993, at Parkview. Elizabeth was very active at Parkview and was especially fond of listening to her son’s sermons and participating in their couple’s small group. She was a prayer warrior and journaled for years. Elizabeth was also a member of P.E.O. and enjoyed serving the Iowa City community in many different capacities. Elizabeth and Wally loved to dance, attend their grandchildren’s concerts and sporting events, travel, and visit Julie and Gary in Virginia. Most importantly Elizabeth was a committed Christ follower who deeply loved her Savior, her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and virtually all who crossed her path. She always thought of others before herself and was filled with kindness, generosity, and joy. Her family includes her husband, Wally; daughter, Julie Gilmore (Gary Hall) of Alexandria, Virginia; son, Jeff Gilmore (Cheryl) of Iowa City; Jeff and Cheryl’s kids (Elizabeth’s grandchildren and her great grandchildren), Liz (Dan) Heefner of Iowa City, and their children, Luke, David, Zach, Titus; Rosie (Eric) Hansen of Westminster, CO, and their children, Nellie, Eva, Gretta Mae; Jeffrey Paul (Dana) Gilmore of Tyler, TX and their daughter, Logan; Julianna (Ben) Zobrist of Nashville, TN; Jonathan (Jessica) Gilmore of Dallas, TX; and Caroline Gilmore currently in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy based in New London, CT. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a brother, Wayne Duggleby. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting in Elizabeth’s arrangements.