Lillian Laverne (Holzman) Foster

Richardson ~ Lillian Laverne Holzman Foster, 85, a retired RN, died Friday, August 4, 2017 in Richardson.

Funeral is 11:30 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Boyd with burial at Pleasant Grove #1.  Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Dr. Victor Kollman will officiate.  Pallbearers are Dr. Travis Foster, Dr. Eric Foster, Dr. Mark Foster, Shawn Foster and Neil Foster. 

Laverne was born April 5^th, 1932 in Dallas Texas. She was the youngest daughter born to Dr. Jesse Arno Holzman and Lillie Platte Holzman. Dr. Holzman was Veterinarian in WWI.  He worked with the city of Dallas as the city veterinarian in charge of the Dairy Department. Dr. Holzman also established a veterinary practice specializing in small animals behind their home at 912 St and Jefferson. The young girls had lots of pets and were particularly proud of a crow that talked and several distinctive goats. Laverne was very young when she moved with her family to California in the 1930’s after her father had accepted work with the U.S Dept. of Agriculture: Bureau of Animal industry in the 1930’s. He worked for the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program so they moved a lot as he worked traveling from herd to herd throughout the state. Laverne and her older sister excelled in multiple school districts in California and they accelerated through their classes.

 The family moved back to Texas in 1942. Tragically, her father died in December of that year when Laverne was only 10. Her mom moved the girls back to their home on 8^th St and Jefferson where they raised chickens and doves. Laverne and her sister regularly attended Sunday school and church at 1st Methodist Dallas. She continued with her studies and graduated from Adamson high school, Class of 1950. It was there she met the love of her life Connie T. Foster.  She continued her studies at the North Texas State College and then at Parkland School of Nursing in Oak Lawn. At that time the nursing students were not allowed to marry during their training.  So, Laverne’s mother gave special consent and she married Connie Foster October 10^th of 1952 in Dickerson chapel of First Methodist Church Dallas. They were married for 63 years. She graduated from Parkland hospital school of nursing in 1954.

 Connie and Laverne had 3 boys, Travis Arno born 2/8/1956, William Eric born 4/10/1958 and Mark Lawrence born 11/17/1961. In 1964 the family moved to Richardson.  Connie found a job working as an engineer for Texas Instruments on national defense projects. Laverne worked in nursing for many years at Richardson Medical Center retiring in 1992.  All three of her sons graduated from JJ Pierce high school in Richardson and went on to achieve Doctorate Degrees. Laverne enjoyed reading. She and her husband were regular members of Messiah Lutheran Church. She is preceded in death by Connie Travis Foster. She is survived by her 3 sons, Dr. Travis Foster of Dallas (granddaughter Caroline), Dr. Eric Foster of Colleyville (Bonnie),Grandsons (Shawn, Neil, Conner), Granddaughter(Jenny)Dr. Mark Foster (Susan) of Ponder TX, Nephew Jeff Foster (Christi)(children: Jacob and Jessica) of Round Rock and  her sister Dr. JoAnne Francis Battalgia of Denton, Tx.

Hawkins Funeral Home, Boyd, Texas 940-433-5310 www.hawkinsfuneralhome.com

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