Ida D. Foy was born May 7, 1949, in Houston, Mississippi and was a resident of Beloit for forty-four years. In 1967 she married Walter E. Foy of Beloit and was employed by General Motors for nineteen years.

Ida attended the Beloit public schools and graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1967. In keeping with her lifelong interest in education, she was a graduate of UWC-Rock County in 1987.

Her community activities included being the first President of the Minority Parent Organization and her interest in the Beloit schools encouraged her to run for and be elected to the Beloit Board of Education in 1989. From 1990 to 1992, Ida served as Vice President of the Board and in 1992, her fellow Board Members, recognizing her leadership abilities, elected her President of the Board, a position she held until her death in 1995.

Ida was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Beloit, serving as a volunteer in various positions and committees.
An article in the Beloit Daily News, December 18, 1995, contained comments by her fellow Board Members, and perhaps best expresses the character that made her a leader, and contributed her talents and leadership to the benefit of the students and faculty of the Beloit School System, and her fellow residents of the Beloit community:

“….she would listen to and consider all sides.”
“….she was a tremendous people person and wanted to know what everyone had to say and everybody’s views were important to her.”
“….she would always reach out to others.”
“….she was very quiet and very reserved all the time, but she had a sense of humor that you wouldn’t believe.”
“….she has been one of the better presidents because of her dedication and her feelings for young people. Everything she did pointed towards making things better for young people.”

Ida is survived by her husband Walter Foy, a daughter Syretha Foy and a son, Christopher Foy.