Memorials › William Edgar Foster

William Edgar Foster

14 Jul 1888 – 20 Nov 1920

Birth	14 Jul 1888
Death	20 Nov 1920
Cemetery	Woodlawn Cemetery Woodlawn , Baltimore County , Maryland , USA
Added by	Donald Thompson on 29 Aug 2018
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192675549

Bio

World War I veteran Company I, 355th Infantry, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Force Little additional information has been found regarding William's wife Daisy Teresa [Griffith], or his parents, Charles F. and Clarissa (Foster) Foster of Bayard, NE. From newspaper reports William had married Daisy only two weeks before his death. She was born at Baltimore, MD on Dec. 20, 1884, the daughter of Joseph C. and Dora L. (Styles) Griffith. She is found in censuses conducted for Baltimore, MD in 1930 and 1940 and may have possibly died at Baltimore in 1960. Obituary appearing in the Sunday, Nov 21, 1920 edition of the Baltimore Sun. In the presence of his wife of two months William E. Foster, 32 years old, 603 Oakland avenue, Govans, a blinded veteran of the World War, despondent because of his affliction, swallowed five mercury tablets [Nov. 20, 1920]. Foster had been despondent for two weeks, and had threatened to end his life, according to his wife. Only a few days ago, it is said, he threatened to hang himself. Weary of Blind Life Walking in the parlor of his home, Foster stumbled over a chair. He remarked to his wife: "This blind life is going to kill me." Mrs. Foster endeavored to make him forget his affliction by talking on another subject. Foster, who was formerly stationed at Evergreen, Jr. Red Cross Institute for Blinded Soldiers, still attended Evergreen School. He arose at 7 o'clock yesterday morning, his usual time, to dress and attend his class. He felt his way over to the mantel in his room and found one of his glass eyes broken. Holding the broken eye in his hand, Foster remarked to his wife: "Even my eyes go back on me." Mrs. Foster returned to the kitchen and made a fire while she thought he was dressing. Foster did not dress. He went downstairs, walked out into the yard and then re-entered the house. He said, "Here goes" and fell on the floor at his wife's feet. Mrs. Foster was ignorant of what he had done until she saw the bottle containing the poison by his side… Was in Eighty-Ninth Division. Foster, who was a member of Company I, Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infantry, Eighty-ninth Division, was among the first contingent of soldiers sent to Evergreen. The efforts of this institution is to impress upon the blinded soldiers that they are not hopelessly handicapped in life because of their affliction. Courses in virtually every vocation are given to the soldiers and everything is done by the management to keep the minds of the men occupied and to keep them cheerful. Prior to his marriage Foster was quartered at Evergreen, and there were few soldiers more popular than he. Relatives of Mrs. Foster would visit the home and frequently remark on the beauty of the furniture and other things. Mrs. Foster said these remarks offended her husband because he was unable to see. Blinded By Grenade During the battle at St. Mihiel Foster was blinded by a hand grenade thrown by a German. While confined in an American hospital in France he received a letter of sympathy from General [John] Pershing, and when the General was entertained in Baltimore in April he renewed his acquaintance with Foster. (See attached photo) Funeral of Blind Veteran Services for W.E. Foster, Who Ended Life, To Be Held Tomorrow The funeral of William E. Foster, the blinded veteran of the World War, who committed suicide Saturday, will be held at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at his home, 603 Oakland avenue, Govans. Services will be conducted by the Rev. H.P. Jackson, of Fuller Memorial Baptist Church, and burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Foster of Bayard, Neb., his widow, Mrs. Daisy T. Foster, and three brothers and three sisters. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but it is expected that some of his blind comrades who were with him at Evergreen, Jr. will attend the services. [Baltimore Sun, Monday, Nov. 22, 1920, p. 11]

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