Ariel Fristoe

ARIEL FOARD FRISTOE, age 92, of Bel Air, a native of Harford County, died in Mariner Health of Bel Air on May 1, 2003. Born July 9, 1910 on her grandfather Standiford’s farm in Jarrettsville, she was the second oldest child of the late Frank Oliver Foard and Ariel Elizabeth Foard. She was raised on her father’s hedge farm on High Point Road in Forest Hill. She grew up milking cows by hand with her father, working in the home with her mother and playing with neighboring farm children.

Mrs. Fristoe attended High Point Grade School and graduated from Bel Air High School in 1931. After high school, she raised hundreds of turkeys each year for Thanksgiving and Christmas markets. Every Christmas she made 50 pounds of candy, gathering sisters and nieces to participate.

Later, Mrs. Fristoe earned her nursing certificate through a correspondence course. She worked at Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace for 10 years and for many years as a private nurse helping elderly people in their homes. She cared for both of her parents at the end of their lives.

In 1966, she married her childhood sweetheart, James Fristoe, a farmer and owner of an appliance store in Black Horse. They lived on Lee Street in Bel Air. Mr Fristoe died in 1978.

Mrs. Fristoe, a lifelong Methodist, was active for years in the Christian Women’s Endeavor group at Centre Methodist Church, Forest Hill. Later she transferred membership to Bel Air United Methodist Church.

She was proud of her agricultural heritage, family members said, and she delighted in her many nieces, nephews, and friends. She loved cats, flowers, and sewing and was very knowledgeable about antique dolls, which she collected, repaired and dressed.

She was a woman of remarkable strength an upbeat spirit, truly a joy and inspiration, her family said.

She is survived by two nieces, Ariel Webster Basham of Bel Air; Jeanette Fristoe Blake of Bel Air; six nephews, W. Gene Umbarger of Churchville; Lloyd F. Umbarger of Bel Air; Richard L. Umbarger of Raleigh, North Carolina; Richard Foard of Aiea, Hawaii; Russell Foard of Ridgley, Maryland; and David Webster of Shelby, Nebraska; 10 great-nieces and nephews; and 10 great-great-nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by two sisters, Louise Foard Umbarger; Ella Foard Webster; and one brother, Russell Foard.

Those who desire may contribute to the Harford Hospice, 8003 Corp. Drive, Suite G, Baltimore, Maryland 21236.