Foster

The Rev. Glea L. Foster, 62, of Chicora, pastor of the Chicora and Karns City United Methodist churches, went home to be with the Lord late Tuesday evening at ACMH Hospital, Kittanning, following a 21-year battle with cancer.

Born May 18, 1949, in Madison Township, Clarion County, she was the daughter of Mabel Swartz Bearfield of Rimersburg and the late Willis D. Bearfield.

Rev. Foster was a graduate of Union High School in Rimersburg.

She was married at the Lawsonham United Methodist Church, Aug. 16, 1969, to Kenneth R. Foster. He survives.

In 1977, Glea became a local pastor in the United Methodist Church. In 1985, Rev. Foster graduated from the Asbury Seminary and received an associate degree in general studies from Indiana (Pa.) University in 1987. Rev. Foster became a full-time pastor in the United Methodist Church in 1988. In 1994, Pastor Glea became an associate member of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and received her ordination as a deacon.

She served as pastor in Puntneyville from 1977 to 1988; in Callensburg, Perryville and West Freedom from 1988 to 1996; and in Sheakleyville North Salem from 1996 to 2002; and she currently was pastor at the Chicora and Karns City United Methodist churches, a position she held since 2002.

Pastor Glea was an avid photographer and particularly enjoyed photographing nature and wildlife. She also enjoyed painting and fishing.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by a brother, Wade D. Bearfield of Rimersburg; a sister-in-law, Martha Craig and her husband, Alan, of Humboldt, Tenn.; two brothers-in-law, William C. “Bill” Foster and his wife, Geri, of Indiana and Frederick W. “Fred” Foster and his wife, Jeannie, of Clarion; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her father, she also was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Mae Garris Foster.

<B>FOSTER</B> — Friends of the Rev. Glea L. Foster, will be received at the Karns City United Methodist Church, 117 Petrolia St., Karns City, from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Additional visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, where funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dean Zeigler, district superintendent of the Butler District of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Glenn B. Kohlhepp, a retired United Methodist Church pastor, and the Rev. Aimee Twigg, pastor of Otterbein United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Lawsonham Cemetery, Madison Township, Clarion County.Memorial contributions in Rev. Foster's name may be made to the Karns City or Chicora United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 89, Karns City, PA 16041.Arrangements are under the direction of <B>Hile Funeral Home </B>of Chicora.Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.