Obituary of James Forrest

James William Forrest, 84, of Lynchburg, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at Virginia Baptist Hospital. He was the husband of Emily Forrest for more than 61 years. James was born July 23, 1923 in Thornton, Arkansas, and was the only child of James Forrest and Edna Trautman Forrest. He spent most of his childhood and adolescent years in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where his father managed a saw mill. With his father's death, he and his mother moved to Syracuse, New York in 1940, to live with his aunt, who was a professor at Syracuse University. James soon met his high school sweetheart, Emily Mason. In 1942, he graduated from Nottingham High School and soon thereafter enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 2nd Division, 44th Bomb Group, and served as a waist gunner on a B-24 bomber crew stationed in Norwich, England. Between November, 1944 and May, 1945, the crew flew 21 missions over Germany. After being discharged from the Army in October, 1945, he enrolled at The Ohio State University. On September 5th, 1946, James married his high school sweetheart, Emily. The couple lived in the Columbus area while James continued college, and he graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Business. That same year they moved to Newark, Ohio where he worked for the Newark Stove Company. In 1951, they returned to Syracuse where he began working for General Electric (G.E.) as a Contract Administrator. By 1959, James and Emily were the parents of 3 children (Marjorie, Paul, and Steven), and the family was transferred to Lynchburg, Virginia where he worked for G.E. until retirement in 1985 after 33 years. After retiring, James enjoyed numerous activities, serving as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, The Virginia Baptist Auxiliary, and the Virginia Ten-Miler. He also remained an active member at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher, a deacon, an elder, and on both presbytery committees, and as a delegate to the PCUSA's Annual General Assembly. James also enjoyed working with the "Romeos" to help maintain the church's facilities. Driven by a deep desire to continue learning, James completed a four-year study course through the University of the South and St. John's Episcopal Church entitled, "Education for Ministry" (EFM), completing the course in June, 2006. He enjoyed time spent with his family, travel, non-fiction reading, political discussions, golfing with the G.E. retirees' league, a variety of music, and especially, the yearly trip to Columbus for an Ohio State football game. Most of all, James enjoyed people and could usually be seen with a smile on his face when he was in the company of others. James was preceded in death by his daughter, Marjorie Forrest Lockridge. In addition to being survived by his wife, Emily, he is survived by his son, Paul Andrew Forrest and wife Atsuko of Lynchburg; his son, Steven Roy Forrest and wife Mary Ann of Chesapeake; grandchildren Amy Charbonneau and husband Eric of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Sara Powers and husband Brian of Los Angeles, California; Robert James Lockridge of Vancouver, British Columbia; James and Stephanie Forrest of Chesapeake and great grandchildren Elijah and Anna Charbonneau and Liam Powers. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg. A memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, also at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to either Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1388, Lynchburg, VA 24505 or to Presbyterian Homes and Family Services, 150 Linden Avenue, Lynchburg, Virginia 24503. Diuguid Waterlick Chapel is in charge of arrangements.