Forrest James Meade Rubenstein Jr.

Forrest James Rubenstein Jr., affectionately known by his family and friends as Jimbo, passed away after a long illness on January 22, 2021. Jimbo was born in Cumberland, Maryland on February 17, 1954 and grew up in a military family on Marine Corps bases along the east coast until the family settled in Fredericksburg in the early 70s where he graduated from James Monroe High School, class of 1973. After high school he operated JimBo Home Improvements with his father and later worked with Steve Spratt in the construction business. His love of tools and building began at an early age. At the age of four, he found his father’s drill and much to the chagrin of his parents, secretly drilled holes in the porch of the family’s rented home. As a preteen, he was known to store lumber under his bed for future projects and built or repaired bicycles for his siblings. As a teenager he spent summers working in his Uncle Johnny’s gun repair shop in Cumberland MD where his love of gunsmithing and machining developed. In 1978 he enrolled at the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School (PGS) in Avalon PA where he attended master gunsmithing classes during the day and taught PGS classes in the evening. While there he also helped plan and execute the school’s expansion. PGS offered him a position as an instructor after graduation but he decided to return to Fredericksburg to be near his recently widowed mother. He graduated from PGS in 1980 and soon opened Jimbo’s Gun Repair. He did gun repair in the evenings from a shop behind his home, while also working for Steve Spratt Improvements during the day. He later moved his shop to Alum Springs Road in Fredericksburg. In 1992, he began working for Fredericksburg Machine & Steel as a machinist and later foreman until his early retirement due to illness. Jimbo was an extremely gifted man with a unique ability to envision his creations. He had a photographic memory and often recreated gunsmithing and machinist tools from photos in antique manuals. He was an expert on the M1 Garand and wrote excerpts regarding for publication. He was an inventor and problem solver, often designing and creating equipment or tools to assist in gun repairs and machining. Jimbo was a master craftsman and was often contacted for unique repairs and designs, to include replicating antique window locks for the Oval Office, the arched trellis at Belmont and repairing the antique locks at both the Mary Washington House and Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop. He especially enjoyed working on antique clocks for friends and customers. Jimbo also volunteered his time for many years as the Scoutmaster for Fairview Baptist Boyscout Troop 179 and rebuilt homes annually with the Habitat for Humanity Christmas in July project until his illness progressed. He was a British sports car enthusiast and lovingly restored several MGs and Austin Healeys including his prized 1953 MGTD Roadster which he enjoyed taking to car shows with his English bulldog. He was also part of the Dahlgren Yacht Club, enjoying both sailing competitions and quiet afternoons on the water. His talent was great and his interests were many. He repaired, built and renovated everything from motorcycles to boats to steam engines to telescopes to cars to airplanes to historical homes to Carl’s custard machine –you’re welcome Fredericksburg- and too many other things to list here. Jimbo was exceptionally intelligent but humble. He was very accomplished in the endeavors he chose to pursue. He was heard to say that all he ever wanted was a family and like all other things he set out to do, he achieved this goal. His children and his grandchildren were his greatest achievements and meant everything to him. It can honestly be said that ‘Bo’ was a man that achieved his dreams. Jimbo will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his mother Rita D. Rubenstein; his four children Chrisse (Robert) Van, Sarah (Karl) Rubenstein, Marybeth Rubenstein and Joey Rubenstein; two grandchildren Madison Rubenstein and Levi Van; three siblings: Linda (Mike) Herbaugh, Thomas (Deb) Rubenstein and Noble (Monic) Rubenstein; a nephew, great niece and many cousins as well as his loving English Bulldog Katie. He is preceded in death by his father, Forrest James Rubenstein, Sr. The family wishes to thank Pat Rubenstein and Jimbo’s many loyal friends who have offered their love and support throughout Jimbo’s illness. The family also thanks the Fresenius Falls Run and Spotsylvania Dialysis Clinics and Mr. Edward Banks of MVP Transports for their love and friendship. A Celebration of Life is planned for later in the year.