Francis "Frank" C. Forsberg

How much adventure can one man fit into 103 years of living? Francis C. Forsberg’s life experiences spanned ten decades, multiple continents, three wars, and included careers with the U.S. Navy, the CIA, NASA, and Lockheed.

Frank was born in 1921 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Navy Chief Petty Officer Frank Forsberg and Esther Cook, and grew up in San Diego. Frank ran away from home with a tenth-grade education at the age of 17 and joined the Navy, taking with him a couple of pieces of fatherly advice that he followed throughout his life — “any job you get, do it better than the guy before you, and every opportunity you get, study, study, study”. Those lessons served Frank well. Despite his limited early education, Frank would later earn a Master of Science degree after attending the Navy’s Senior Naval War College.

Frank chronicled his lifelong adventures in his book “Beyond Expectations”. In his book he recounts an exemplary and exciting naval career that began in 1938 as a seaman who experienced WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam before his retirement in 1966 with the rank of Captain. His saga began in the 20’s and moved through the great depression and his career, first as a sailor, then as a navy pilot, during three wars. His career changed from sleeping in a hammock and each morning placing it on the side of the battleship to absorb shrapnel in a battle, to flying typhoon reconnaissance, to liaison duties with the CIA / U2 spy plane program, to flying jets and patrol aircraft with nuclear depth charges. Throughout his adventurous naval career, Frank came to understand he was blessed with the protection of a guardian angel to get him home safely through the many escapades during his Navy career.

After retiring from the Navy Frank was asked to take a management job with Lockheed Electronics Company as a support contractor to NASA Space Center in Houston. He was initially hired to manage the Lunar Landing Site Selection Laboratory and had many other challenging and interesting management positions before retiring twelve years later. After his stint with Lockheed, Frank enjoyed several years of management consulting. In the ensuing years Frank was also General Department Manager of SKYLAB’s Experiment Integration Dept General Dept Manager of Life Sciences. Putting his experiences and ingenuity to work, Frank was also an avid inventor who was awarded 4 patents; one voted Best Invention of the Year for its category.

Frank also enjoyed a lifelong affair with the outdoors. While his military travels enabled Frank to see the world from the cockpit of his plane, he also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and time with his friends and family. Despite his years, Frank was one tough competitor, especially when playing Rummikub with Velma and their friends at the Towers on Parklane in San Antonio where Frank settled after his career.

Frank is preceded in death by wives, Joan and Elizabeth; sons, Herb and Mike; and son in law, Bill Rutledge. He is survived by his wife of five years, Velma Lamoureux; sister, Charlotte Boettcher; daughter, Mercedes Rutledge, daughter, Sharon; and son in law, Phil Almeida; daughter, Laurie and son-in-law, Bryan Mahoney; daughter-in-law, Darla Forsberg; stepdaughter, Lisa Peterson and husband Dan; and many grand and great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Porter Loring Mortuary.

GRAVESIDE SERVICEWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 20242:00 PMFORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.