Roselyn W. FORREST

POQUOSON - A true native of Poquoson, Roselyn Wilson Forrest, 91, died peacefully at home with her beloved husband, H.S., by her side on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010.
Roselyn was born in her parents' home on Wythe Creek Road in 1918. Her parents, Daniel Cleveland Wilson and Rosa Hunt Wilson, who preceded her in death, raised her on their small farm and attended Emmaus Baptist Church. Her parents sent her to Harrisonburg State Teachers' College in 1934. The school transitioned to become Madison College by the time she graduated in 1938 at the age of 19. Roselyn was quite proud that her alma mater became James Madison University. Her first job was teaching at the Old Dare/Grafton School in York County. She loved to tell the stories about her students, some of whom were larger than she was and almost as old. After a few years she transferred to Poquoson Elementary School. Once she met and married H.S. on Dec. 21, 1940, she had to relinquish her teaching position to the single ladies of the community. Their son, Dan was around 3 years old when H.S. signed up for the Army to serve in World War II. While her husband was on the European Front in Germany, she worked at NASA Langley and Langley Air Force Base in the photography department developing the pictures the planes would bring back from the War. After the War and the birth of her second son, Steve, Roselyn returned to the classroom where she taught mostly sixth graders, including her two sons, off and on until she stopped teaching in 1970, tallying 26 years in the classroom.
Roselyn was dedicated to her family. With her first paycheck she paid to have her parents' home wired with electricity, and she bought them new living room furniture. As her sons grew to have families of their own, she cooked a big family dinner for them nearly every Sunday until well into her 70s. All four of her grandchildren remember those Sunday dinners as a large part of their childhood. If a loved one needed something, Roselyn saw to it that they got it, no matter how small or large.
Roselyn is survived by her husband, Henry S. Forrest Jr., also 91; her two sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel W. Forrest and Betty of Gloucester and H. Stephen Forrest III and Kay of Poquoson. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Kelly F. Kajumulo (Alex) of Seattle, Wash., and Mary Ann F. Rector (Carson), Cleveland J. Forrest, and Matthew W. Forrest, all of Richmond; and four great-grandchildren, Spear F. Kajumulo of Seattle, Wash., and Seth A. Forrest, Jeremy B. Forrest, and Madison A. Rector, all of Richmond. In addition, she is survived by her brother-in-law, Orville Forrest and his wife, Lois; niece, Dana Forrest Zawodny (Joe); and great- niece, Eva Zawodny, all of Poquoson.
After marriage Roselyn was an active member of Tabernacle Methodist Church, attending her Sunday School class until her late 70s when her health made it difficult. She also participated in the Poquoson Retired Teachers Association.
Visitation will be at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home, Poquoson from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at the funeral home by the Rev. Milford C. Rollins. Burial will follow at Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News. At other times, the family will be at the home.
The family would like to thank Personal Touch, especially Lisa (nurse), Angela (therapist) and Audrey (aide), and Hometown Help, especially Gail and Julie, for all their help and loving care of Roselyn in her last months. We couldn't have kept her at home without them. We would also like to thank the wonderful EMTs and firefighters who assisted us on several occasions over the past year.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Poquoson Volunteer Fire Company, 1035 Poquoson Ave., Poquoson, VA 23662; the American Diabetes Association Fund at www.diabetes.org - click on "Give in memory;" or to the Poquoson Education Foundation, P.O. Box 2425, Poquoson, VA 23662. Online condolences to www.claytorrollins.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.