NEWARK — A funeral service for George E. Forster, 91, of Newark will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home in Newark with Pastor Susan Stevens officiating. Interment will follow at Glen Rest Cemetery in Reynoldsburg with military honors provided by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.
Mr. Forster, a retired auditor for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, passed away Jan. 23, 2009, at Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark. He was born Aug. 1, 1917, in Delaware, Ohio, the son of the late Richard A. and Marie I. (Alter) Forster. He had resided in Logan, Reynoldsburg and most recently Newark. He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He was manager of the Heine Packing Co. during the ’50s. He was an accomplished master woodworker and cabinetmaker and loved making all kinds of natural wood crafts, games and furniture keepsakes for his family and friends.
George married AnnaBelle (Heine) Forster on Nov. 9, 1944, and they shared 39 years together. She preceded him in death in 1983.
He is survived by his second loving wife, Mary E. Forster. They were married 22 years. Other survivors include a daughter, Roberta “Bobbie” McPhail of Howard; a son, Steven E. (Linda) Forster of Reynoldsburg; four grandchildren, Bryan L. and Timothy L. McPhail, Matthew E. and Elizabeth L. Forster; a great-grandchild; a sister, Barbara (Willard) Forster Bryan; several nieces and nephews. He also leaves children of his wife’s family, Greg (Judy) Cole, Kelly Cole, Tom (Deborah) Cole, Scott (Sheree) Cole, Mary (James) Cole Kishler; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, John and Helen (Forster) Sells; and a brother, Richard Forster.
Friends may call today from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pilot Dogs Inc., 625 W. Town St., Columbus, OH 43215; or to The Salvation Army. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com and click guestbook/obituary.