My name is Walton Glenn Forsythe Jr. and I passed away on May 28, 2021 after suffering a short-term illness, pancreatic cancer. I was born on June 19, 1939 to Walton Glenn Forsythe Sr. and E. Lenora Fesler Forsythe in Oneonta, NY.
I mainly grew up at 41 Ford Avenue and 20 Academy Street. I had a hard time getting to the High School on time as it was right across the street from our home. During my summers in high school, I worked for my Uncle Earl at the Coca Cola plant in what is now Red’s Filling Station.
I graduated High School at the age of 16 which was way to young for me. I started SUNY in the fall of that year and was shown the way out after the first semester. I just did not have the studying way of life down pat.
After driving my mom and dad crazy because I couldn’t or wouldn’t find a job, I wandered into the Marine Corps Recruiters office one day and after taking the aptitude tests it was decided that I could be an aircraft electrician. So, I signed up. What I didn’t realize is that even though I signed up for an aircraft repair job, I still had to go through boot camp. So, after 13 weeks of boot camp which included 4 days lying in a Quonset hut with about 70 or 80 other recruits suffering from what ever the flu was at the time, I graduated boot camp. Then it was off to Camp Lejeune for more training in the fine art of fighting wars.
After that I was sent to Jacksonville, Fl for my electronics training. There was about 10 weeks of that. Then on to on-the-job training. I was assigned to VMF 122 at Paris Island Air Base. While there I met many fine friends. From there my air group was sent a few times to Guantanamo Air Base in Cuba. These times corresponded with Castro’s take over of Cuba.
After I had left the active-duty Marines, once a Marine always a Marine, I worked for Keith Clark’s in Sidney, NY running a gold stamping machine for about 6 months. Then I moved on to Miami, FL and started to work for Coca Cola. During my Keith Clark days I became reacquainted with my future wife. We had met during in earlier times in high school. We married on September 6th, 1961. We have had many happy years together.
When we moved back to Oneonta, I started to work for the D&H Railroad where combined with Amtrak I worked for about 40 years. On the D&H I worked as a trainman, conductor, fireman and engineer. While on Amtrak I worked as an engineer and road foreman. Before railroading I worked for Coca Cola in Oneonta, Miami and Charlotte, NC. I also sold life insurance and sold plumbing for Sears and Roebuck.
After retiring in 2001 I have done a lot of volunteer work. For Elm Park Church I have helped with various social justice projects, been lay leader, district lay leader, chaired the Leadership Committee and others. I also became a lay preacher and preached as many as 34 times in a year. I have taught Senior Driving for AARP for 18 years and helped a friend put up wall board for Habitat for Humanity. He allowed me to do the spackling in the deep recesses of the closets where it would not be noticed. I also served for several years on the Oneonta Plains Cemetery Board. I enjoyed meeting with all the people that my volunteer work presented me with.
I am survived by my wife Nancy and our three children, Wayne and his companion Pomeranian Chippers and his children Alicia, Molly “Ben”, Melissa, and Meagan. Stephanie and her husband John and their children Jenna and her husband Ron and John and his wife Sabrina. Dorie and husband Bill and their children Randy and his wife Charlene, Serina and her husband Joe, and Samantha. I also have at present 12 Great Grand Children and one Great, Great Grand Child.
I also have 7 surviving cousins Bob, Bobby, Joe, Linda, Nancy, Sarah and Yvonne.
I have 4 surviving in laws Audrey, Mary, Arthur (Barbara) and Robert (Shirley).
I am survived also by my beloved cat Merlin. He chose to come to live with us for which we are most grateful.
I was predeceased by my beloved parents, my wife’s parents Alice and Glenn Goble, cousin Debbie, and in laws Alice, David, Glenn Jr., and infant Walter.
For anyone attending my wake or funeral, please come dressed casually and in bright clothes. You are invited to greet my family on Saturday, June 12, 2021 beginning at 10 AM at the Elm Park Church, 401 Chestnut Street Oneonta, where a funeral service will take place at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, please support the Elm Park United Methodist Church in Oneonta or Helio’s Care.
To leave a condolence for my family, visit www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18