B.W. Foster Funeral Home

Veteran services at B.W. Foster Funeral Home

For veterans in Portsmouth, VA, B.W. Foster Funeral Home coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "B.W. Foster Funeral Home assists with arrangements for veteran burials, indicated by Bart T. Foster's background as a retired chief hospital corpsman from the U.S. Naval Reserves and the listing of 'Veteran Cemeteries' as a resource. Olive Branch Cemetery, a nearby facility, also mentions offering veteran burial flags." On-site amenities include chapel, parking lot, and reception areas, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $2,360 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include memorial service, graveside service, outer burial containers, temporary grave marker, burial clothing, and cremation urns. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

Published pricing at B.W. Foster Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,410. That places direct cremation roughly 1% below the Virginia median ($2,435). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in VA, approximately 18 miles from B.W. Foster Funeral Home. B.W. Foster Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

B.W. Foster Funeral Home also accommodates Catholic traditions for veterans whose religious or cultural observance shapes the service. Military honors can be integrated into the family's tradition with no conflict — the honor detail observes the family's pace.

Virginia has approximately 579 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. B.W. Foster Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at B.W. Foster Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,410. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.

Where is B.W. Foster Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

B.W. Foster Funeral Home is located at 1926 High St. in Portsmouth, VA. You can reach the home at (757) 397-2391. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does B.W. Foster Funeral Home offer veteran families?

B.W. Foster Funeral Home provides professional services of funeral director and staff, embalming, preparation of embalmed body, automotive equipment, visitation services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does B.W. Foster Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

B.W. Foster Funeral Home assists with arrangements for veteran burials, indicated by Bart T. Foster's background as a retired chief hospital corpsman from the U.S. Naval Reserves and the listing of 'Veteran Cemeteries' as a resource. Olive Branch Cemetery, a nearby facility, also mentions offering veteran burial flags.

Which faith traditions does B.W. Foster Funeral Home accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Catholic families, among others.

What sets B.W. Foster Funeral Home apart

Over 125 years of continuous operation, established in 1896 as S.J. Flynn Company, evolving into B.W. Foster Funeral Home in 1954.
Multi-generational family ownership and operation, with Benjamin W. Foster's sons, Bart T. Foster and Brian P. Foster, actively involved.
Strategic partnership with R.W. Baker and Company Funeral Home to establish Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel, expanding service area.
Extensive online Griefwords Library, offering a wide range of articles and resources for individuals and families navigating grief.
Staff members, including Brian P. Foster Sr. and Bart T. Foster, are actively involved in multiple professional associations, demonstrating commitment to industry standards and ongoing development.

Military & veteran services offered

★Memorial Service

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Graveside Service
· Outer Burial Containers
· Burial Clothing
· Immediate Burial

Cremation

· Cremation Urns
· Cremation Urn Vaults
· Direct Cremation

On-site facilities

· Chapel

· Stateroom

· Parking Lot

· Arrangement Rooms

· Reception Areas

· Preparation Room

· General Office Facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Tidewater Funeral Directors Association
· National Funeral Directors Association
· Virginia Funeral Directors Association
· Association of Independent Funeral Homes of Virginia

Specializations

· Catholic services
· Veteran services
· Military Honors services

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic.

Branches of service supported

Based on the home's stated services and specializations, B.W. Foster Funeral Home has documented experience supporting the following branches:

Navy

EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral

The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.

Begin Veteran Estate Settlement

How honors are coordinated

Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.

For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.