Pamela Wallace Foster

Pamela Wallace Foster was born in Paintsville, Kentucky on May 20th, 1947 to Tyrus Cobb and Freda Riffe Wallace. Much like her mom, Freda, she was not given a middle name when she was born, so her maiden name later became her middle name. A descendant of coal miners and train conductors from Van Lear, Kentucky, Pam spent the majority of her childhood in Ashland, Kentucky with her brother Tim, her lifelong best friend Nancy Mitchell, and her numerous aunts, as her mother was one of six girls. During this time is when she also developed a passion for movies and music.

She went off to Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, for vocal performance where she was determined to be “the next Barbara Streisand.” While there, she met her future husband Joseph Foster, who she always described as “the big man on campus.” They fell in love, got married, and moved to Iowa for Joe to finish his Masters in Theology. Pam made it clear to Joe that she did not want to be a Pastor’s Wife (he agreed), so after he finished his Masters, they moved to Chicago.

While she may not have become the next Barbara Streisand, Pam & Joe could be seen at various bars or small venues around Chicago playing folk music during this time. Her love of animals was on full display during this time as well in the form of a giant St. Bernard named Brandy who lived with them in their small Chicago apartment. While living there, Pam gave birth to her first child - Brooke Ashley.

About a year later, they all moved to South Haven, Michigan when Joe got a new job. There, Pam gave birth to her second child - Morgan Todd. She worked for many years as an X-Ray Technician at South Haven Hospital, and later as the Personnel Manager at Wal-Mart. During this time, she would take very memorable annual road trips with her family down to visit her parents, who had relocated to Ridge Manor, Florida. During those trips, she would check in on numerous family members on the way, take care of her parents, and visit the myriad amusement parks and zoos, making sure to visit one of her favorite animals - the manatee.

She loved to laugh, and one of her favorite subjects to laugh at was Joe, who was a notorious klutz. To all her friends and family, it was a wonderfully charming part of their relationship when Joe would accidentally roll down the sloped yard of their house, or disappear down a set of stairs he didn’t realize were there, or wedge himself upside down between the seats of his boat, and Pam would have tears running down her face from laughter.

She could also be seen often in the garden at her house, where she was known for her eccentric collections: Old appliances (and even a toilet!) that she would use as planters in the garden, Cow pictures and statues, Manatee signs, Lighthouse sculptures, and a constant rotation of flowers and plants that she would display or give away. She loved finding a good sale, and would shower her family and friends with gifts for every possible occasion (Christmas was always an epic ordeal for her family).

Later in life, she adored spending time with her grandchildren Avery and Margot, who she showered with love and presents whenever she could. Her and Joe could also be seen around town at events and festivals, or out on their boat. During this time they also took many road trips to visit lighthouses all along the Great Lakes and even all the way to New England and down the East Coast. She always had to walk up and physically touch each lighthouse she went to, which is a perfect metaphor for her deep passion she had for everything and everyone she cared about.

She was generous, fearlessly passionate and expressive, fiercely loyal to her friends and family, and loved life to its fullest. She will be incredibly missed, but she’s reunited with Joe and hopefully checking out lighthouses again. She is survived by her daughter Brooke and son-in-law David, son Morgan and daughter-in-law Corinne, granddaughters Avery and Margot, and many wonderful and loving friends and extended family that she loved dearly.