I worked with John for many years at BGF. He was a visionary who always was looking to see how he could grow his markets. He was a friend, mentor, and someone that always would listen and offer advice to help make you better. One of the true good guys who will be missed and often thought of. Bless him and his family.

John, the day you saw our Heavenly Father, and you felt his love, peace and compassion was the day when my memories of you became so vivid.  You became my best friend over 25 years ago; we laughed, and shared ideas, our trip to Italy with Jeri Ann and Carol became an unforgettable event in our lives, as did our business trip to Russia. Then there where those discussions we had over a dinner or a cup of coffee, in addition to the time spent at dinners, holidays or just getting together relaxing. So my friend, you will never be forgotten, I'll keep my treasured memories of our friendship, our travels through this life, but most of all of 2 old men in a truck. God bless you and keep you in His Arms!

John and I were in the 24th Company at the United States Naval Academy.  We were good friends and shared many laughs together.  I will always remember his wonderful smile and perpetual exuberance.  He was the type of friend you knew you could count on.  In our chosen profession that was and is an essential quality.  Regrettably, after graduation we never saw each other again.  We talked on the phone a few times and always promised each other we would get together.  
Sadly, we both assumed we had more time to do so. A good man was John Forsythe and I am proud to have known him.  Rest in peace my friend.

John Forsythe, my father-in-law, was a father to me!  Words cannot express the feelings of sadness I have knowing he is no longer with us. He could bring a smile to anyone's face with one of his witty comments or with a story of a past family adventure.  His goal in life was to make everyone around him happy and that he did, no matter how much he was put out.  I thank God for all the memories and time my family and I had with him and for letting him go peacefully. Spread your wings our angel and rest in heaven. I loved you then, I love you now and I will love you forever.

Pop,

I take comfort in knowing you are in heaven and will be a guardian angel to all who loved you so much.  You touched so many lives with your kindness and generosity and we will love you and miss you always.  I'm proud to say you were my Dad and I know we will all be together again someday.  Give John Jr. a hug for me.  

Love,

Your son, Jimmy

Not sure how I'm gonna write this, but I'll try.  John Forsythe, I'm very proud to say, was my Father, Pop, Dad, Mentor & Best Friend.  I was Blessed for 39 years to be raised by this Loving, Funny, Sweet, Kind, Generous & Trustworthy man.  My Dad will always be the Strength of the Forsythe Family.  He was our Rock through all the fantastic times, as well as the tragedies that our family have been through.  I've dreaded this day my entire life...losing my Pop.  But, I Thank the Lord, for taking him Peacefully in his Sleep.  He will be Forever Missed & Never, Ever, Forgotten!  I could not have asked God for a better Father.  Please watch over us, Daddy.  I can't wait to see you again in Heaven!  Rest In Peace, you deserve it!  Love, Jen...aka Skeeze

I appreciate John being active in the Blue and Gold Club in The Villages.  All of us Naval Academy  graduates have a bond with each other regardless of our class year.  I value having known John and regret his leaving us so soon.  I thank him for his service to our country.  May John rest in peace.  He is sorely missed.
                               Art Rowe (The Villages, Florida)

I worked with John for many years and he was always so upbeat and helpful.  He was a great guy who could make you feel better about things. He used his skills to make his products better and more innovative than competitors.  He enjoyed his work and his co-workers and made the world a better place. That is a life well lived.

Ken Lowry

John was a man having his heart in the right place. He tried always to look on the positive side of our world even though in difficult times. I adored John how he bore burdens of life he and his family had to go through. On top of that he never forgot his friends, had always a smile for them and tried to make their day. 
I met John the first time 15 years ago for business reasons. We started to work together. Over the years we got friends. He invited me to learn about his great country and its people.I started to love it. He introduced me to his family.  I felt always like coming home when I visited him in Greensboro. John became a fatherly friend and mentor for me. My heart was were my friends have been. We had so much fun when together, we talked about the world, about god and all important things in life. We have shared so much we have been able to talk about that we became friends for life. John was a good teacher too. He tried to teach me in all the colloquialisms he knew of. The first was: "Its going to hell in a hand basket"; he was joking so often and we laughed so much.  

This is what he said always to me: "Robin, do not forget to smell the roses in your life".  

John, I will always miss you. But you will stay in my heart and my mind. God bless you. Rest in peace. Robin from Germany

My name is Lance Wall.  I knew John through Jen, his daughter and my good friend.    
I met John and Jeri-Ann 6 or 7 years ago.   They came to my home.   Jen and I were practically joined at the hip for at least a year with a business project.three or four hours of windshield time per day, 4 to 5 days per week.   If you know Jen. that's 3.9 hours of her talking.   I felt like I knew John very well through Jen's lens.  
I felt like John and his wife came to my home because they felt like they knew me without knowing me.    They wanted to meet me, meet my family.   The interest was genuine.   It was the farthest thing from checking a box.  They wanted to know more about me,  about my family, and as a young father of a probably 5 or 7 year old girls at the time, I got to observe what loving parents look like of a 29 year old daughter.  I am sure many of the Villagers feel the same way. 
I worked very closely with Jen when her brother passed so tragically.  John would have traded places in a second with their son.   I was so fortunate in their times of tragedy to see how a family comes to each other's side to make sure every family member ( Jason Forsythe included )  gets each other through itall coping in their own way.   I got to be a non-family sounding board for what was on Jen's mind and that is where I learned every day, how much LOVE was in the Forsythe household, well into the empty nest years and how much a daughter adores her Father.      
I will miss John's warm and inviting demeanor.   I get the feeling that he treated everyone on any level with the same respect and the same great attitude.  When they purchased a home in the Villages.they immediately extended an invite to do lunch.  I hope to take him up on it..in about  40 years.    
John was obviously successful in business.   From my lens, The Forsythe family enjoyed the finer things in life.  Wealth is not material, it's how you spend your time and how you impact those that you surround yourself with..   Although 71 years does not seem long enough.. I learned a long time ago that it is so important to celebrate the time that you have on this Earth and not to dwell on what you may have missed.   The gift is now in the memory and you cannot deny that John was wealthy in the best of ways.   God Bless.

You were a great and amazing man, but more then that you were an awesome grandfather! I will always cherish the memories I share with you, and you will forever be loved and missed.

John greeted us with a big smile and quick wit.  He loved his family and his dogs.  He was always positive and was able to make quick-come-backs when Ike teased him.  Ike is missing his golfing buddy.  Retta

Mary Ann and I send our deepest condolences. Though we didn't get to visit
much, we feel close to all our fellow "Blue and Golder's"  John will be missed. Our love to the family.  Rich Yoder  '58

Forie...never failed to give me a smile and a hug. So happy he married my Jeri Ann and brought my Scoogie Boy into my life. I'm grateful to you for sharing so many good times and most of all, for supporting me thru the lonely, hard times. I will always miss you and remember you in my prayers. I'll be looking at the moon but I'll be seeing you, my buds

Sending my love to the family.  Anyone who loved his dogs the way he loved his, is a superman in my book!  I'll always feel a part of his family because of this. God bless him and his family.  May you truly rest in peace, John.

John's life's mission was to leave the world a better place than the way he found it. Mission accomplished John. You left BGF better, you left your family better, you left your church's charity mission better, and you left me better. I learned so much from you and was honored to be your colleague and friend. Our loss is heaven's gain.
Mary Causey

John was a kind, gentle-man...Well liked by all who worked with him and he always had time to listen and to help. I enjoyed knowing him. Rest in peace, John.

One of the finest men I've ever known...John always had a positive attitude and was one of my mentors...John always worked behind the scenes to help everyone grow, either in their career or personally...You always knew you were in for a great story when John said, "I remember...."
I was sad the day he retired...today I'm heartbroken that I'll not get to talk to him again...but I celebrate and cherish a life well lived...Love you John...rest easy... ol' sock, ol' bean, ol' pal...

OBITUARY

John R Forsythe

Passed away on 16 OCTOBER, 2015

Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memory Gardens

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