Jesse Roger Forester

1928 - 2017

Jesse Roger Forester of Temple, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, at a Temple hospital at 88 years of age. Celebration of life: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at Christ Episcopal Church, 300 N. Main St., Temple. Memorials: May be given to the Salvation Army or a charity of your choice. Jesse was born in Del Rio, Texas, on Dec. 26, 1928. He graduated from high school , joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Greenland 1946-1949. He graduated from SMU in 1953 with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. He worked in the aerospace industry, including General Dynamics (now Lockheed) in Fort Worth and helped develop the guidance systems for the F-111 and F-16 fighter jets. He had two temporary assignments: testing air to ground missiles over White Sands, N.M., proving grounds for three years and as a director for the Hawk missile program in Camden, Ark., for two years. He retired in Fort Worth in 1993, lived in Cloudcroft, N.M., and moved to Temple in 2011. Jesse was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Clawson of Temple, and grandson, Aaron Forester of Fort Worth. Survivors: His wife of 64 years, Dorothy "Dot" Crow Forester; brother-in-law, Judge James F Clawson of Temple; children: David Forester of Norristown, Pa., Donna Fisher of Edwards, Colo., and Greg Forester of Fort Worth; grandchildren: Jack Fisher of Denver, Colo., Carrie Philabaum of Glenford, Ohio, Carol Wilson of Edwards, Colo., Ben Forester of League City, Texas, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Scott Fisher of San Diego, Calif., Emily Thomas of Nashville, Tenn., Gracie Pilkenton of Athens, Ga., Faith Williams of Temple, Nathan Forester of Temple and Hope Forester of Norristown, Pa.; and 16 great-grandchildren.