Letha "Jane" Forbes

In 1922, Letha Jane was born to Walter (house painter / baseball shortstop) and Bernice Woods (one-room-school teacher) of Rush- ford, New York. Their dark-haired, petite little girl soon became "Janie" to family, and eventually L. Jane legally. With a vivacious personality, good mind and diligence, Jane excelled in school. She acquired three treasures during her first 16 years: a life-long friend, Betty Ann Hardy; her musical talent, instrumental and vocal; and a deep, abiding faith in her Savior. Her only sibling, Nancy Ann, arrived when Jane was twelve, to the great joy of her family. College education was an impossible dream for a family of humble means, but God provided 1½ years at Houghton College. Jane moved on to Practical Bible School in Binghamton, NY. While visiting friends Ed and Dorothy Stady in Philadelphia in 1942, she met Alan Forbes, college student and vocalist with Percy Crawford's nationally- broadcast men's quartet. Alan was drawn to her beauty, wit, and evangelistic zeal for sharing Christ. They married in May of 1943, be- ginning the adventure of their 72+ year partnership in life and ministry.

The Forbeses moved to Buffalo, New York, in 1947 to begin a musical ministry at Prospect Avenue Baptist Church. Soon they added the responsibility of pastoring the young people of the congregation. Their investment and leadership evolved quickly into a city-wide non- denominational ministry called Youth time Evangelistic Fellowship. A permanent home for the work was found at 512 Pearl Street in 1958. The exponential growth of the outreach through the Buffalo Christian Center filled their together-lives until 1992. Jane's enthusiasm, servant's heart, hospitality, keyboard artistry, and teaching gifts perfectly suited the life they had been called to in Western New York.

Concurrent with their public lives, Alan and Jane raised three daughters-Letha, Vicki, and Shelly-with a spirit of celebration, sacrifice, prayer, and focus on the future. As a mom, Jane was organized and disciplined, so very little of importance fell through the cracks; she made sure there were music lessons, family time (that included a radio music ministry), play and healthy social connections, plus good food. Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, guest musicians and preachers were always welcomed at 105 Walton Drive. Her careful oversight of financial resources made these blessings possible.

As a lover of the Old Testament and the Jewish people, Jane's heart naturally bonded to the land of Israel. For more than a decade, she and Alan hosted tours to the Holy Land that were characterized by camaraderie, joyful song, daily devotions and scriptural exposition- creating a thoughtfully planned and executed experience for all travelers.

Once the nest was empty, Jane began a rigorous Bible-study teaching schedule; by the late 1990s, there were six weekly studies (one with 125 young women) and regular speaking engagements. She served the Knox Presbyterian Church as organist and choir director for 30 years. On several occasions, the house in Snyder became home to strangers and friends.

The move to Florida was an opportunity for reconnection with life- friends Joe and Betty Springer, and for pleasure in their growing family of in-lawed children, grandchildren, and great-grands. Music ministry, hospitality, community-creating in their neighborhood, and prayer were hallmarks of the last 22 years. Whether a cruise or a Vespers worship on Sunday afternoons, their days were filled with purpose by sharing the Good News of salvation. For Jane, nothing essential changed, though the last seven years were increasingly affected by short-term memory loss. That illness, the loss of Alan, and the move to a memory care facility became the final test of her faith, the purifying of her soul for heaven. Through grace, she passed the test!