Margaret W. "Maggie" (Wharton) Foster

Margaret Wharton Foster passed away at the age of 72 in her Heath, Ohio home on July 20 as a result of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.  She was born in Neffs, Ohio to W. G. “Mike” and Mary Wood Wharton on November 19, 1943.  Shortly thereafter, the family moved to the Hillsboro area, where they became successful in farming and farm-related activities.  Mike was also active in the Lions Club and was well known as long-time manager of the Highland County Fair, while Mary did volunteer work for the Methodist Church and the Highland County Republican Party.  Both parents pre-deceased Margaret; Mike in 1997 and Mary in 2015.  A 1961 graduate of Hillsboro High School, Margaret was engaged in many activities and played in the marching band. While in high school, she also served for a year as Highland County Dairy Princess.

In 1967, Margaret moved to Columbus, where she met James N. “Nick” Foster.  They were married in Hillsboro on October 9, 1971 and lived in Columbus until early 1973, when they moved to the Newark-Granville area, where their son “Sam”, Karl E Foster III, was born on December 15, 1973. The family made a number of work-related moves in their years together, living in Overland Park KS, Page AZ, Longview WA, Prince Frederick MD, Rock Springs WY, Toledo OH, Glennallen AK, Farmington NM, Franklin TN and, from 1989 to 2015, Stilwell KS.  In most of these locations, Margaret, who became known to many of her friends and family members as “Maggie”, worked in the medical insurance and health care industries.  In October of 2015, Maggie and Nick moved back to Ohio and settled in Heath, where they planned to enjoy their retirement.

Maggie loved her grandchildren, cats, travel, gardening, sewing, reading, crossword puzzles, good food and an occasional glass of wine.  She was an avid sports fan and a particular follower of the OSU Buckeyes, the Kansas City Royals and the annual NCAA basketball tournament. 

Margaret is survived by her husband J. Nick Foster of the home; her son Sam and daughter-in-law Dr. Jessica Arnold Foster and grandsons Jackson Nicholas, Karl Evan and Maxwell Kircher, all of Hudson, Ohio; sisters Jean Wharton McKenzie and Nancy Wharton Skidmore, both of Hillsboro; brothers Mike Wharton (Carol), also of Hillsboro and Bill Wharton (Ann) of Bellbrook, Ohio.  Also surviving are her uncle John Wharton (Nina) and a great number of nieces, nephews and friends.  

Visitation will be on Saturday, July 30, from Noon to 2:00 pm at the McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home with a memorial service immediately following. The family requests that flowers not be sent.  Donations may be made in Margaret’s memory to NPDPSC at Case Western Reserve University. 

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