WINTHROP — Richard (Dick) Presley Foster died on Dec. 19, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Dick was born on Jan. 10, 1931, to Louise (Webster) and Reginald Foster in Auburn and grew up in Monmouth and Wales. He graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1949.

On Aug. 17, 1957, Dick married Shirley Cox of North Monmouth. They lived in Winthrop the 53 years they were married. In 1961 they had a daughter, Lisa, and in 1964 a son, Scott.

Dick was employed by H.P. Smith’s Dairy at the beginning of his work years and then by Stone and Cooper Fuel Co./Webber Fuel for nearly 40 years. He had been retired almost 18 years.

Dick was very active in local government organizations and served on the Winthrop Budget Committee, the Board of the Winthrop Water District, and was in the Winthrop Fire Department for 37 years and served as assistant fire chief for many of those years. He was a very active member of the Winthrop Lions Club with perfect attendance for over 50 years. Earlier he was active in the Monmouth Fish and Game Association and the Monmouth Grange.

Dick was an active hunter and fisherman and enjoyed most sports. His hobbies were gardening, camping and woodworking, where he made many improvements to their home and built many pieces of cabinetry, shelving and a dollhouse for his granddaughter, Courtney. In his late years his favorite pastime was watching his grandson, Tyler, play whatever sport the season called for. He also spent time coaching Tyler to become a woodworker.

Dick was predeceased by his parents; his little brother, Larry; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lucille Cox Christensen and Walter Cox; his brother-in-law, Robert (Red) Bauer; his niece, Audrey Bauer; his sisters-in-law, Arlene Cox Jacobsen, Norma Cox Fides and Sally Cox Phaneuf; and his brother-in-law, Richard Cox.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Winthrop; his daughter, Lisa, of Randolph; his son, Scott, of Winthrop; his granddaughter, Courtney and her fiance, Mike Fossett, of Damariscotta; his grandson, Tyler, of Winthrop; his sisters, Lucille Bauer of Leeds Junction, Shirley Pettengill and her husband, Rodney, of Leeds and Mary Pollard and her husband, William; of Monmouth; his brothers-in-law, Linwood Cox of Biddeford, Clifford Cox of Winthrop and Kenneth Cox and his wife, Liza, of Readfield; and his sister-in-law, Carole and her husband, Mike Sanders, of Oakland. He also leaves many cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends, all much loved.