Leonard Foster

Leonard Foster, 90, of Alamosa Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at Carlsbad Medical Center. Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Friday, October 7, 2016 Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, October 8, 2016, 10:30 AM, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Garry Schwalk officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Leonard Foster was born October 16, 1925 in Littlefield, Texas to Clifton Parks and Mary Frances (Barnett) Foster. He moved to Hagerman with his family as a young boy. Leonard served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII aboard the USS Zeilin. In 1947, Leonard went to work in the sheet metal industry at .65 per hour. He opened Foster Sheet Metal in 1963 which he opened and operated until retiring in 2011. Leonard became a pastor in 1954 after being ordained at Baylor University. He built many churches throughout Texas from 1954 to 1956. Leonard pastored North Hill Baptist Church and Happy Valley Baptist Church for many years. He was active with the National Council on Bivocational Ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention. Leonard was known for sharing his faith with all. He carried coins in his pocket which had a scripture imprinted on the coin and he handed those coins out to any and all that crossed his path. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jim Foster; grandsons: Todd Carroll and Scott Foster; great-grandson, Trace Lariviere; brothers: Carlos and Edgar Foster; sisters: Alba Foster, Evelyn Carrell and Mildred Morris. Survivors are his wife, Pauline Foster of Carlsbad, NM; son, Ray Foster and wife, Karlina of Jakarta, Indonesia; daughters: Paula Autry and husband, Floyd of Carlsbad, NM, Katy Wiechert and husband, Kent of Albuquerue, NM, Jo Scheel and husband, Happy of Carlsbad, NM; daughter-in-law, Gloria Foster of Spring, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Ethel Pierce and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Lance Foster, Craig Foster, Ryan Grandi, Dalton Andrews, Tharyn Carroll, Lane Lariviere, Jeramy Porter, Brandon Lamb, David Lamb, Tim Carroll and Cody Foster. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com