of Fairfield Bay, AR

July 25, 1940 - April 6, 2023

David E. Foster passed away on April 6, 2023, after a rewarding and impactful life. He was born in White Cloud, Kansas, on July 25, 1940.

Dave met the love of his life, Phyllis Nicholas, in Red Oak, Iowa, and married her on September 30, 1962. Dave always said that he was successful in his life and career because of the support and love of Phyllis. She gave him everything he needed, and he was thankful for every day they were together.

Dave graduated from Pittsburg State College with a B.S. degree in biology in 1967. He earned his M.S. (1969) and his Ph.D. (1973) in entomology from the University of Idaho. Dave was a professor of entomology first at Texas Tech University, then University of Kentucky and University of Idaho before joining Iowa State University in 1980 as a Professor and Extension Entomologist. While at Iowa State he co-led the development of a new concept called Integrated Crop Management, which was demonstrated across Iowa. The University recognized him with an award in 1984 for his research and extension programming excellence.

Dave came to the University of Arkansas in 1988, first serving as the Head of the Department of Entomology, then as Associate Director of Extension, and later Associate Vice President of Agriculture for Extension/ Director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. He oversaw 800 employees and an annual budget of $40 million. In this role, he brought to fruition a state headquarters complex in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the Extension Service.

He joined Oklahoma State University (2000) as Associate Director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, serving in that role until his retirement in 2004 to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas.

Dave provided national leadership for land grant universities throughout his career. A key example of this leadership is his role as Chair of the National Committee to Develop the Extension Vision for the 21st Century. The Committee's report was instrumental in moving extension systems forward. As a result, Dave was recognized with a special award that states, ''It takes people with vision to help people with dreams.'' That statement captures the essence of Dave.

After retiring Dave continued to work by volunteering in Fairfield Bay as an EMT (and Deputy Captain) on the Emergency Medical Services ambulance, as a Community Club board member and president, and as a member of the Team 2035 planning committee, just to name a few.

Dave is survived by his wife, Phyllis; sister, Virginia Thompson; brother, John Foster (Barbara); and sisters-in-law Betty Herzberg, Carolyn Hanson (Adrian) and Shirley Clark (Jack). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Ruth Foster.

Perhaps no motto fits Dave's life more than this Mark Twain quote: ''Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.'' Dave wanted to be remembered as a good and decent person. He will be remembered as an individual who loved to work and who made a tremendous difference in the universities he served, the students and colleagues he mentored, the communities in which he lived, and the friends and family he touched.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Iowa State University Foundation, PO Box 2230, Ames, Iowa, 50010 to support the David E. Foster Scholarship for students studying insect science at Iowa State University.

A memorial service for Dave will be held at Roller McNutt Funeral Home, in Clinton, Arkansas on June 3, 2023, at 11:00 AM.

To express condolences online please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clinton

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
Highway 65 South
Clinton, AR  72031
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com