Laura Foster (King) Figgs, 87, died in her sleep on Christmas Eve, 2021 in Wilmington, DE.
Laura was born at home in Marshallton, Delaware on March 31, 1934 to John Henry King and Mary Szymanski King. Her father was an electrician, and her mother managed the local Food Fair grocery store. On November 22, 1951, Laura married one the store’s young employees, Harold Robert Figgs, in a ceremony at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.
Shortly after Harold returned from service with the Army in Korea, Laura gave birth to their son, followed 13 months later by their daughter. More than a decade after Harold passed away in 1990, Laura reconnected with Charles Farrell, who became her devoted partner and closest friend for the remainder of her life.
Laura was a creative and giving person, who loved sewing costumes, building dollhouses, making wooden advent calendars, and mastering any artistic challenge that she could imagine. She instilled a love of painting, crafting, and the arts in her children and grandchildren. Laura read countless books and enjoyed taking family and friends to shows at The Playhouse Theatre. She and Charlie were regular patrons at the Newport Diner during their time together.
Christmas was a special time of year for Laura. For many years, she brought her children and grandchildren together for holiday ski vacations to British Columbia. Laura, who was known as “Babcia” to her family, was at the center of many memories from these trips, including driving a snowmobile out of a snowdrift, posing in matching family Christmas pajamas, and winning numerous games of Trivial Pursuit.
Laura is survived by her son, Harold R. Figgs, Jr. (whom she gave the lifelong nickname of “Spike”), his wife, Heidi Pester Figgs, their children, Hilary Rae Figgs and Andrew Harrison Figgs, her daughter, Jamie Figgs Doane, Jamie’s husband, David Carl Doane, her granddaughter, Devon Cyle Doane, Devon’s husband Noah Heulitt, and her great-grandchildren, Huxley Doane Heulitt, and Hart Wilder Heulitt. Laura will be deeply missed by her family, friends and loving companion, Charles Farrell.
She is pre-deceased by her husband Harold R. Figgs and her sister, Mary Earle (King) Ellis.
No services are planned at this time.
