John George Forrest Jr.

John G. Forrest (Col USAF Retired) died peacefully on 7 October, 2021 There will be a burial at Arlington National Cemetery on 20 January, 2022 at 9:00 AM. Details may be found here: https://fb.me/e/9vUcNzLi7 John G. Forrest (Col USAF Retired) died peacefully on 7 October, 2021. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife Kathryn. He is survived by; daughter Kristin Godfrey, husband Gary of Austin, TX; son Matthew Forrest, wife Melissa and 2 grandsons Mitchell and Maarten of Fairfax, VA.; sister Anne Hamilton of Newark, DE; nephew John Etherton, wife Donna of Darien, IL; niece Margret Houttmann, husband John and nephews Ryder, Caleb, Henry and niece Charli Bean of Hockessin, DE; sister in law Helen McRae; nephew Douglas McRae of Greenville SC. John was born in Lancaster, PA raised in Prospect Park Pennsylvania and later moved to Manheim PA. He was a graduate of Prospect Park High School and Penn State Univ graduating with a degree in EE in 1957. He received his commission in the USAF through the ROTC. John retired after 27 years of active duty rising to the rank of Col. He flew B-47s and B52's among other aircraft. He participated in LineBacker II (bombing of Hanoi) during Dec 1972, for which he received the Bronze Star. He worked on several important projects (Advanced Airborne Command Post, TAC Sat Com, Support for the Analyst File Environment(SAFE) and several highly classified Intelligence projects) while serving in the Pentagon, first in the JCS and then in the OSD and finally the DIA. He received a number of medals but he was proudest of the Bronze Star and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement presented to him by the then Director of the CIA, William Casey. After retiring from the AF he joined Quality Systems Inc of Fairfax, VA he spent 15 yrs rising to the VP for Business Development. He then became a consultant to BAE Systems, then on to other USG contractors and finally the US Gov directly. He began commuting to Williamsburg VA in the beginning of his consultancy and totally retired in 2008 at the age of 78. John was active in many endeavors; he was a member of the DAEDALIANS, Silver Wings, Quiet Birdmen(QBs), AFA, MOAA, IEEE, Manheim Lodge of F&AM. John and his wife Kathryn were both active in the Williamsburg Community Chapel and loved his church and fellow Christians, during his more than 20 years in Williamsburg. They had many dear friends that they shared good times with the Bergs, VanDuyses, Piasics, Caples, Corbers, Janaros and the Rodgers to name only a few. Pop/Poppa dearly loved his family and enjoyed his visits with daughter Kris and son-in-law Gary(Austin, TX); and Matt, daughter-in-law Melissa; the two Grandsons, Mitchell, Maarten and his Fuzzy Buddie Mercury (Fairfax, VA) and especially the summers at Corolla, NC beach with (son and daughter-in-law and two grandsons and loved ones from Melissa’s Mauri Family, and Lari & Mary Anderson and family). He and Kathy enjoyed 7 or 8 trips to Tortola in the BVI to visit dear friends Edith Ann and Don Ray. No flowers please; instead, feel free to donate in John G Forrest’s name to The International Myeloma Foundation, St. Jude's Children Hospital, or the charity of your choice.