Robert W. Foster

Robert Foster, 80, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, formerly of Evansville, Indiana, passed peacefully on March 10, 2026.

Robert was the beloved husband of Mary Kaye Foster, née Baker. They married on June 8, 1968, in their hometown of Evansville and shared 57 years of marriage. He was the devoted father of two daughters, Elizabeth (Kevin) Lomax and Karen (Mark) Goedert, and cherished grandfather to Annemarie Goedert. Robert is also survived by his brothers, John (Patricia) Foster and Raymond (Deborah) Foster, as well as five nieces, four nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nancy Foster, and his sister, Ann (Tom) Novotny.

A Purdue University graduate with a master’s degree in electrical engineering, Robert enjoyed a distinguished career as a software engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Naperville for 32 years. He later worked as an independent software consultant for a decade and served as Chief Technical Officer of the start-up TextPower for 15 years. He held three patents in telecommunications technology.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Robert dedicated 34 years to officiating high school football, forming lifelong friendships with his fellow officials. He served three terms as president of the Athletic Officials Association and spent three seasons refereeing in the Arena Football League. For more than twenty years he was a valued member of the Chicago Bears chain crew. In 2008, he was inducted into the Athletic Officials Hall of Fame. In his later years, Robert and Mary Kaye enjoyed their winters in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he loved hiking and playing golf.