Gertrude Gall Forbes

1919 - 2017

BORN

1919

DIED

2017

Gertrude Forbes Obituary

Name: Memorial service for Gertrude Gall Forbes
Start: 2017-06-09T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Shoreline Unitarian Church

Gertrude (Trudy) Gall Forbes

October 7, 1919 ~ May 24, 2017

Trudy was born in Benton, IL to Edward and Georgia Ligon Gall. She was raised in Ashland, WI where she graduated Northland College in 1937 with an English degree. Her long teaching career began at Clear Lake, WI. In 1945 she married Howard and later joined him in Germany after the war. They returned to the US in 1947 and moved to Seattle to begin their family. She taught English and biology at St. Nicholas in Seattle from the mid- 1950's to 1960 and returned to teaching as an English professor at Shoreline Community College in the mid-60's. She served on the Boards for University Unitarian Church and the Seattle Indian Center. Besides spending time at their Mt Rainier cabin with her family and many friends, she and Howard became Civil War and Custer Battlefield enthusiasts.

She is survived by children Mark (Denise), Georgia (Mike), Barbara (John), and Jenny (Dick), five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her sister Addy Skrupky and husband Howard.

A memorial will be Friday, June 9th at Shoreline Unitarian Church at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Northwest Harvest.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Jun. 4, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Gertrude Forbes

Sponsored by The Family.

4 Entries

Joan Giuffre

June 25, 2017

I remember Gert, who would always get the neighborhood kids together just before we would go out on Halloween evening and she would make a big spaghetti dinner for all of us.
Later in my life, she would come out and I would cut her hair and we would reminisce about all the good time and people in the 'hood. My condolences to the family, She was a wonderful lady!

Bill Daly

June 8, 2017

There was many times growing up that my mother, Pat Mohn Daly, would share childhood stories about her time with Gert & Addy.

The first time I met her during a visit to Minnesota, I felt I'd know her my whole life.

Our face to face visits over the years were few, but we enjoyed the exchange of Christmas cards each year.

Our thoughts and prayers for the whole Forbes family.

Bill & Deb Daly

Tim Beardsley

June 7, 2017

I met Trudy Forbes and the rest of the Forbes family through my friendship with Mark at the UW. I was fortunate to be invited to their home for various functions. Trudy and Howard were hosts to an eclectic band of friends, family, neighbors, and fellow travelers. Usually based around the big kitchen table, there swirled conversations, arguments, laughter, occasional upset quickly resolved and typically some enlightenment. Trudy and Howard were always welcoming and inclusive. I felt connected to this family and enjoyed their company. Later, after graduation and going separate ways, I had contact with Trudy. I was planning a trip to visit Mark at Crater Lake and she had furniture, beds and household stuffs and she wondered if I could haul these items with me. As my departure arrived, I drove to her home and spent some time over coffee(or maybe a beer) and treats, recalling those fun times a decade earlier. We loaded up the truck with Trudy finding more and more items to include. It was a full load. Heading to Crater Lake, I had pleasant thoughts of my visit with Trudy and the memories of times with the Forbes family. I'm saddened by the passing of Trudy, as well as Howard, and extend my condolences to all the Forbes family. She was a grand lady and an honored member of the Greatest Generation.

June 6, 2017

How fortunate I was to be a friend of both Trudy and Howard and the Forbes family. A new arrival many years ago to the Great Pacific Northwest and immediately accepted into the Family Forbes, How fortunate was I.

The subsequent evenings spent at the cabin on the porch, around the table, watching and learning how to cook on a wood stove and always spirited discussions on teaching, good books, travel and most everything Irish, how fortunate was I.

Trudy liked me though loved my Australian Shepard " Woody". - who would take a dip in the cabin's pond and run along the porch to which Trudy would shout with a laugh and grin - " oh that darn dog".

When I visited her in Seattle we would gather around the table and get caught up on everything only after a treat was shared with "Woody" who enjoyed drinking from the fancy dog watering system in the kitchen which doubled as an ornamental water garden waterfall.

It soon was clear there was no line between family and friends as she loved her family and their friends with no exemption. How Fortunate were We. John Madden