Mary Jo Foster - Cocoa

Mary Jo Foster, 93, of Cocoa, Florida passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2009, under the care of Hospice. She was born in Mt. Hope, West Virginia . She and her husband, Charles Forrest Foster, moved to Brevard County in 1962 from South Charleston, WV.

Mrs. Foster was a 1932 honor graduate of Oak Hill High School . She was a 1959 summa cum laude graduate of W.Virginia State College, Institute, WV with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education . She received a Master of Arts in English from Marshall University, Huntington, W V in 1962 , and a Doctor of Philosophy in English from Florida State University in 1971.

Her career of 18 years with Union Carbide Chemicals Corporation , So. Charleston, WV began in 1944. Her positions there included: Butadiene Analyst, Mathematician in Mass Spectroscopy Labs.; Statistical Research, work with patents and extensive work with Technical Writing and Editing. In 1962-63, Mary Jo taught English and Technical Writing at Brevard Junior College in Cocoa , then was employed as a Technical Writer and Editor for General Electric Co. at the Space Center from 1963-65. Her love of teaching made her return to Brevard Community College in 1967 where once again she taught English and Technical Writing as well as being in charge of the Technical Writing Program there until her retirement in 1985.

Mrs. Foster was preceded in death by her husband , Chuck, on March 2nd, l998 and by her daughter, Mary Nichols, "Niki" Blanton, in August of 1997.

She was proud to have been a life-long Presbyterian and was a member of the Rockledge Presbyterian Church, which she called "my family" .

A memorial service will be held at Rockledge Presbyterian Church on Monday, June 29th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Memorials Fund , Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 So. Rockledge Drive, Rockledge, Florida , 32955 or to a charity of your choice.