Harry Forbes Jr.

1941 - 2025

Harry Gaston Forbes Jr. of Windcrest, Texas, passed from this life of 83 years and joined his heavenly father on October 7, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Harry Gaston Forbes and Martha Scoville Forbes on November 22, 1941, "Little Harry" was a proud big brother to two sisters, Sandra Forbes Neese and Martha Forbes Laws. The Forbes family spent many years in Greenville, North Carolina, before relocating to Greeneville, Tennessee, where he and lifelong friend Fred Boswell grew up together. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Political Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the University of Florida in Gainesville respectively. He served his country with distinction in the Air Force for 25 years, retiring in 1993 as a Lieutenant Colonel. While attending the University of Tennessee (lovingly referred to as "The Real UT"), Harry met and married Etta Rose Rogers (27 years). Harry then married the love of his life Patricia Ann McBee on January 13, 1992. During their 33 happy years of marriage, Harry and Pat lived in Windcrest, Texas, and they also bought a house on Carancahua Bay in Port Alto, Texas, to fulfill his dream of living on the water. Harry and Pat filled their days visiting with family, traveling, hunting, fishing, square dancing, birding, photographing butterflies, and fellowshipping with friends. He loved animals of all kinds, but none the way he loved his dachshunds, who were as much his daughters as his own flesh and blood. He cherished his lifelong friends Fred Boswell, Edward Merrell, Wayne LeBoeuf, and Preston Beard. Harry is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann McBee Forbes, his sisters Sandra Forbes Neese (Chuck), Martha Forbes Laws (Keith), his daughters Jenny Rose Forbes (Fernando Esparza), Sally Elizabeth Grassmuck (Daniel), Amy Lynn Simmons (Roger), Dayna Reaves Knappick (TG), his son Tony Lee Reaves (Elisabet Ortiz), his grandchildren Charlie and Jonathan Grassmuck, Abbie and Ryan Simmons, Justin Knappick (Danielle), and Cristian Reaves, his nieces and nephews Charlie Neese (Eve), Dolly Neese Chandler (Steve), Adam Moss (Margie), and Polly Moss, and many great-nieces and great-nephews. His life and service to our country will be celebrated at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX soon.