Donald F. Forbes, Sr., 84, of Luray, Virginia, died on Monday, December 24, 2012, at Hawksbill Assisted Living in Luray.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church conducted by The Rev. Deborah Rutter. Inurnment will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Front Royal.
Mr. Forbes was born October 26, 1928 in Indianapolis, Indiana, son of the late Raymond Franklin Forbes and Marion Eva Forbes. He was a retired electrical engineer for the Naval Research Laboratories. He was a Korean War - Era Veteran in the U.S. Air Force, and received his Bachelors degree in electrical engineering, under the GI bill, from Purdue University, Class of 1957.
Mr. Forbes loved music his entire life, especially opera, and was a member of the Men's Glee Club at Purdue University. He also appeared on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour Television program. He enjoyed building model airplanes in his earlier years and later enjoyed painting landscapes. He deeply loved his family.
Surviving are three sons, Donald F. Forbes, Jr. of The Villages, Florida and his wife Janet, David J. Forbes of Ruskin, Florida, and Lieutenant Colonel Douglas C. Forbes (ret) of Manassas and his wife Patricia; four daughters, Dianne K. Compton of Las Vegas, Nevada, Denise F. Eastham of Front Royal and her husband Jim, Dolores Jane "Janie" Forbes of Boca Raton, Florida, and Deborah J. Morcos of Strasburg; three brothers, Raymond F. "Bud" Forbes, Jr., Robert H. Forbes, and James C. Forbes; one sister, Frances Marion Forbes; twelve grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his former wife, Dolores "Dolly" Forbes.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St Luke's Community Clinic of Front Royal, Virginia.
Published in the Northern Virginia Daily on Friday, December 28, 2012.
Family Members
Spouse
Delores R. Forbes
1931–2007
