Richard G. Forsythe

After a long and fruitful life of service, Richard Gordon Forsythe died at age 94 on September 16, 2022, in Homewood, Illinois, where he lived with his son and daughter-in-law since December 2018.

Born in Orange, New Jersey on November 10, 1927, he attended public schools in East Orange, graduating from the Columbian School in 1940 and from East Orange High School in June 1944, where he was a pole vaulter on the track team. He and his family were members of Central Christian Church in East Orange. After high school graduation at age 16, he immediately started classes at Newark College of Engineering (today's New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)) until he entered the Army on February 8, 1946. After basic training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, he served in Manilla, Philippines with the 256 ^th Chemical Laboratory Mobile until he was honorably discharged on January 9, 1947. He returned to Newark College of Engineering, graduating in June 1948 with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and began work with the Sherwin-Williams Co. in Newark, N.J.

After meeting Imogene Waltz, a student at Eastern Christian Institute and an employee of the Bell Telephone Co., during the Sunday morning worship service at Central Christian Church in the fall of 1949, they were married on June 3, 1950, at First Church of Christ in Altoona, PA. They were married for more than 70 years, until Imogene's death in 2021.

After the start of the Korean War, the Army told him to report, since his prior service ended two weeks short of a full year of service. Instead, Richard enlisted in the Navy in 1951, entering Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, Rhode Island the day before Thanksgiving 1951. After completing CIC Officers School at Glenview (Illinois) Naval Air Station in November 1952, he served out of North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, CA between 1953-1954, flying as a radar engineer (controller) with VS-25 (Air Anti-Sub Squadron 25) off the USS Sicily (CVE 118). He returned to North Island NAS in February 1954, where he directed the air control school at Flight Air Electronic Training Unit Pacific (FAETUPAC).

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Richard and Imogene returned to Orange, New Jersey, where he rejoined the Sherwin-Williams Co. in October 1954. During his 35-year career with Sherwin Williams, he served as a chemical formulator and then as a salesman in the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1957, he was awarded First Place in the Industrial Sales Representatives' Contest as the top salesman in the company. He subsequently served as assistant general manager of the Chemical Coatings Division in Cleveland from 1967-1970. After directing a division of stores in Philadelphia, he returned to Chicago in July 1976 and was named Vice President & General Manager of the Chemical Coatings Division in Chicago in January 1977.  He later served as President of the International Division until he retired on December 1, 1982.

Richard enjoyed a long retirement, from 1982 to 2022.  During these years, he taught Bible studies and served as an elder at Deer Creek Christian Church in University Park, IL, as a founding director of Crown Point (Indiana) Christian Village, and as a Director of the Graymoor Landowners Association in Olympia Fields, IL. He also tended a backyard garden that was ever expanding, enlisting his granddaughters in the work, and sharing the produce with family and friends. An avid reader all of his life, he reviewed the Wall Street Journal virtually every morning for more than 40 years and enjoyed books on World War II, history, politics, and Christian theology.

A lifelong investor, Richard created college accounts for his eight grandchildren, enabling them to attend college without debt upon graduation.  He also established college accounts for his great grandchildren and contributed to the college education of others.

He was a generous supporter of numerous churches, ministries, charities, and individuals who suffered losses and setbacks. When he knew someone who suffered a motorcycle accident, or lost their spouse, or struggled to pay medical bills, he would often send a generous gift. For example, in response to a column by Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene, he funded travel by a Holocaust survivor to return to Poland to visit her family before she died of cancer.

During their 70 years of marriage, Richard and Imogene raised three children, who flourished in their own devoted marriages, and served Christian Churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois as they moved. They enjoyed traveling, including three trips to the Holy Lands in 1972, 1978 and 1983 and to Alaska, Sweden, Paris, Hawaii, England, and Scotland. Richard personally took care of Imogene in their home in Olympia Fields, IL, through the several years she suffered from dementia, until his unfortunate fall and disability in August 2018. After his partial recovery, he was devoted to overseeing her care in assisted living through the COVID-19 pandemic until she died from the effects of Alzheimer's on February 20, 2021.  His daughter Christine (Forsythe) Greene of Marseilles, Illinois, also pre-deceased him earlier this year.

After hearing late at night that Imogene died, he climbed into bed and prayed. Thereafter, he told people about his wife of 70 years, sharing photos from his wallet. In his final 18 months, he struggled with his failing body and the blood disease (MDS) that ended his life. He was sustained by loving children and grandchildren and enjoyed the presence of his growing number of great grandchildren. His suffering was eased by the excellent care of good doctors and nurses, including Journey Care Hospice.

In gatherings with family and friends, Richard would often testify that he experienced the goodness of God throughout his life. He leaves a legacy of devotion to Jesus Christ, prudent business and financial management, a commitment to education, and generosity to family and friends.

Richard is survived by two sons and their wives, William & Brenda Forsythe of Newnan, Georgia, and Clarke & Karen Forsythe of Homewood, IL, his son-in-law, Alan Greene, of Marseilles, IL, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Richard's honor to Americans United for Life, 1150 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, or to Cedar Classical Academy, 3654 Okemos Road, Suite 200, Okemos, Michigan 48864.

A memorial service will be held at Hickory Creek Church, 10660 W. Lincoln Hwy, Frankfort, IL on Monday, September 26, 2022, at 11:00am. Visitation with the family will precede the service at 10:00am. A private interment will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.