David Roy Forville Col. US Army (Ret)

1941 - 2024

David Roy Forville, Col. US Army (Ret)

June 9, 1941 - August 10, 2024

Colonel David R. Forville, aged 83, passed away peacefully at home on August 10, 2024, in Fredericksburg, VA, surrounded by family. Dave was born in June 1941, to Don and Maxine Forville (preceded in death). He was the eldest sibling of three brothers.

Dave grew up in Lafayette, IN, attended Jefferson High School and then Purdue University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Forestry. Upon graduation, Dave entered the United States Army in 1963 as a Second Lieutenant through Purdue University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. His military career spanned almost 29 years of active duty service. Qualified in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, Dave was able to spend the majority of his service pursuing his passion, aviation. Dave served two tours in Vietnam earning the Bronze Star. He received a rating of Master Army Aviator, flying in many parts of the world in both combat and peacetime, logging in hundreds of hours. Throughout his military career he earned many awards, including Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, 2 Vietnam Service Medals, Army Service Ribbon, 3 Overseas Service Ribbons, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.

His military career took him around the globe. In addition to the two tours in Vietnam, he was stationed in Germany, Newport News, VA, (US Army Career Course), Scholfield Barracks, HI, (25th Infantry Division), Fort Leavenworth, KS, (Army Command and General Staff College), Fort Belvoir, VA, (Defense Systems Management College), St. Louis, MO, (Army Systems Command), Canberra, Australia, (Military Exchange Program), and the Pentagon (Secretary of Defense office). Dave's final position as project manager for the Army's Apache Longbow program was a fulfillment and culmination of his military life's work.

After the military, he had the opportunity to join his loving wife, Sandy, in owning and managing a company dealing with intellectual property, involved in the renewal of patents and trademarks. Dave was often heard to say he could not believe he fell into a field so totally different from flying airplanes and helicopters. This opportunity was the perfect chance to use his people skills in a service-oriented business that covered the US and Canada.

After nearly 29 years in the Army and 10 years in the business world, it was finally time for retirement. The Forvilles found the perfect retirement location west of Fredericksburg, Fawn Lake. Subsequently, the last 20 years have allowed retirement to include the wonderful fruits of Dave's labor, golf, pickleball, many social activities, and even more travel. Some of the travel even included cruises, which Dave grew to like.

None of this would have been as much fun if not for the love of Sandy, wife of 62 years; or the other loves of his life, daughter, Nancy (Tom) Wacker; son, Trent Forville; daughter, Gretchen Alwes; son, Bret (Janet) Forville. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; five great-granddaughters; two great-grandsons, with a third great-grandson due in December 2024.

Funeral arrangements and Celebration of Life will be updated upon scheduling.

In lieu of flowers, Army Emergency Relief (AER), https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org.

AER is the Army's official non-profit charity. AER uses donations to provide grants, interest-free loans, and scholarships to help soldiers and their families with financial stress and promote readiness. AER also provides emergency funds to soldiers' orphans and surviving spouses.