George L. Forbes

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm. A memorial service will be held Wednesday June 17, 2020 at 10:00 am, both at Memorial Funeral Home. A burial service will be held at Blue Mound Cemetery in Cooksvillle, IL on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 3:00 pm. At this time, the funeral home is limiting the occupancy of our building to 50 people due to COVID-19 restrictions. We ask for your understanding and cooperation in our efforts to keep our families and staff safe. Please be prepared to be directed by staff when you arrive for visitations and services.

George was born in Peoria, Illinois on May 10, 1945. He graduated in 1963 from Downs High School and received his Bachelors from Illinois State University where he played on the baseball team for two years. He married Cathy Jo Beier on May 8, 1971. He played Triple AA Fast pitch softball for Staley GMC Trucks and later Hearts of Bloomington Illinois. He taught math classes and coached baseball and basketball for 2 years at Atlanta High School in Atlanta Illinois and taught and coached one year at Stanford/Minier, High School in Illinois.

George served in his country in the 7th Army Division in Neu Ulm, Germany with the Perishing Missile Top Security Unit. He received the National Defense Service Medal as well as the Good Conduct medal.

After returning from the service, George was hired at State Farm Insurance in 1972 where he started in computer programming. In 1985, he was transferred to Columbia, Missouri working as Agency Administration Manager. He worked for State Farm Insurance for 32 years.

George was a member of Compass Evangelical Free Church where he served as treasurer, was on the finance committee, and on the church building board. He helped the church complete many different building projects which kept him busy through his retirement. He was also active in small group bible studies for 20 years.

He was an avid reader and history buff and had a passion for fishing, golfing, and of course, Mizzou athletics and Cardinal baseball.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer Forbes and Laura Forbes Volpe (Vincent Volpe); two precious grandsons, Geno Michel and Gavin Nikolas, that were such a bright spot in his life; sisters, Margie Gelhlhaus, Hannah Coone, and Debbie Martin; and brothers, Gene Mears and Grant Forbes.

He is preceded in death by a son, Brian A. Forbes and mother Doris Forbes as well as grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.

Donations in George's memory may be made to the Lymphoma Cancer Society.