H. Foster Mitchem Jr.

Dr. H. Foster Mitchem, 94, of Cary, NC, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 7, 2020. Faith, family and friends were first and foremost to Foster and he will be remembered by those who knew him for his compassionate and generous heart.

Born in 1925, Foster grew up in Union, NJ. Following high school, he served with distinction during World War II as a rifleman in the 100th Infantry Division and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic action during the battle for Heilbronn, Germany, in 1945.

After the war, Foster completed college at Rutgers University and went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. He opened the first dental office in Kenilworth, NJ, and grew a large general practice that served a multitude of patients for over 35 years. His longtime staff included two sisters (Fern and Shirley) and one of his two daughters (Jill).

“Doc’s” loyal patients came from not only Kenilworth but throughout the northeast. He served as treasurer of the local dental association and in 1976 the prestigious Academy of General Dentistry bestowed upon him the title of “Fellow.”

While in practice, Foster lived in Cranford, NJ and faithfully supported the ministry of Evangel Baptist Church. In 2008, he and his wife Nancy, the love of his life for over 65 years (married 64), moved to the Raleigh area to be near family. They attended Colonial Baptist Church.

Foster is survived by his wife, Nancy Glendenning Mitchem, and daughters, Jill Rusche and Laurie Beauchamp (Ed). He leaves behind four grandchildren, Rebecca Perez (Jason), Jeb Beauchamp (Sheri), Lindsay Creech (Mathew), Ashley Beauchamp and a great grandson, Owen Perez. Also surviving him are his nephews Chuck Lauer (Carolyn), and Bruce Bailey along with four nieces and two nephews from his wife’s (Glendenning) side of the family. Foster was preceded in death by his sisters, Anne Bailey, Fern Bailey, and Shirley Lauer, his brother Stetson Bailey and his nephews John Foster Lauer and Scott Haviland.

Contributions may be made to The Gideons International at www.gideons.org.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, February 13, 2020 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road in Cary. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be in the military section of Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.

Online condolences may be made at www.BrownWynneCary.com