Ted was born February 25, 1926 in Oil City, PA to Rudolph and Elizabeth Fornof. He attended Sharpsville, PA High School, but joined the U.S. Army just prior to graduation. In 1944 he was sent to Europe and was part of the Battle of the Bulge rescue troop. He entered Germany as part of the military forces and was awarded the Bronze Star for action. His vehicle was hit by a land mine and with injuries to his leg.
After receiving hospitalization he was sent to the Philippines in preparation for the invasion of Japan, but that ended just prior to his deployment to Japan.
Ted also served in a station on the Aleutian Islands where Ted and his first wife Marilyn spent their honeymoon. After meeting Marilyn at a church in Seattle they were married a short time later just days prior to his departure to Alaska. She followed him a short time later, where Ted writes in his book that the small airplane that brought Marilyn to the outlying station crashed into the Bering Sea upon returning back to Anchorage. All on board perished, but Marilyn was safe with Ted.
Ted later served in the Korean conflict and again in Europe. Ted and his family had a chance to tour Europe during that assignment. Ted tells of the time they drove their car up to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest near Burgesgarden, Germany. On the way back down the road with sharp curves and switchbacks, the brakes on the car failed. He and Marilyn prayed powerfully. And they arrived safely at the bottom of the road. The two girls in the back yelled out, “Daddy. That was fun. Let’s do it again.” They didn’t.
Ted retired from the Army after 20 years and 29 days. He and Marilyn settled in Yakima. For a time he employed himself in the audiology business. Later selling it. His beloved wife Marilyn passed away on July 20, 1992. He later married Naomi Denny of Quincy, WA. She passed away in 2003. In 2004 he then married Charlotte Timmons. Her passing was in December, 2016.
Ted is preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Elizabeth Fornof, sons Kenneth and Richard. He has surviving daughters, Patricia (Ricardo) Humphreys and Debra (Dale) Mattieligh, grandchildren Christina and Ricardo Humphreys Jr., all of Everett, WA, Eric Fornof of Spokane, WA and Travis Fornof of Texas, a step-son, Steven DeLoge of WY and sister Betty Brower of Lakeland, FL.
Ted was a longtime member of Gideons International, having served in many positions, it was his love to serve and praise his Lord. His book “Living with Angels” depicts the many times he was in dangerous situations. He often thought of the care givers at Orchard Park Retirement Home, Ponderosa Assisted Care and especially at Landmark as his “Angels” sent by God to care for him. For this he is most grateful. Some of his last words to the staff were: “I want to go to God’s Angels.”
Funeral Services will be held at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. with graveside services to at Tahoma Cemetery will full military honors.
To share a memory of Theodore please visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.
Memorial donations may be made to Gideons International, Yakima or to the donor’s choice.
