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Robert Porter Forrest Jr.
1923 - 2014
Robert Porter Forrest Jr.
1923 - 2014
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Robert Forrest Obituary
He went to Texas A & M; then after WWII he graduated from NM State A & M (now NMSU) with a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned his master's in Mechanical Engineering at NMSU. When WWII started the army recruited Bob's entire class at Texas A & M-he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and went to war. The platoon he was in charge of, got captured by the Germans in the Battle of the Buldge. Bob was prisoner of war until he escaped. He was discharged and settled in Las Cruces and graduated from NM State A & M.
He married his high school sweetheart Bettye Ruth Krudwig in January 1944 before the war, then had their son, Robert D. when Bob came back from the war. They divorced, then Bob married Barbara on December 15, 1952. They had two daughters, Samantha and Lynne. Bob was employed at El Paso Natural Gas; Kirtland Air Force Base; Zia Colo.; then LASL, which is now LANL. He was a Mechanical Engineer at the Lab and was acting Group Leader for a while. He retired from the Lab in 1988.
Bob was avid at fishing and golf, and was a very accomplished bridge player earning 2 Life Masters, which is the highest rating in duplicate bridge. Because of his love of cards he was very good at any card game, and was practically impossible to beat!
Most of all, Bob loved his family first and foremost. Bob's wife of 58 years, Barbara Jean Henry Forrest preceded him death, as did his brother Lieutenant General John F. Forrest and his grandson Adrian Romero. He is survived by his children, Robert Dean Forrest and wife Cissie, Samantha Susan Barbara Rense and husband Charles, and Vicky Lynne F. Taylor and husband Wayne; his grandchildren, Forrest Harmony and wife Lindsey, Nathan Harmony and wife Liz, Kyle Forrest, Shayna Forrest, Ayla Taylor, Dustin Taylor, and Chloe Darnell; four great-grandchildren, Alyson and Kaylee Harmony, Alaina and Madelyn Harmony.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 2, 2014 at the United Church, 2525 Canyon Rd. in Los Alamos. Bob and his wife Barbara will be buried at the Veteran's National Cemetery at a later date. The family of Robert Porter Forrest Jr. has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 devargasfuneral.com
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6 Entries
Patrick Forrest
August 16, 2014
My memories of Uncle Bob drift back to the early '70s when he, Aunt Barbara, and my cousins, visited FT Hood, TX. He and I strolled the little road circling our house, while he recounted his experiences in the U.S. Army's bloodiest battle in all of WWII, the Battle of the Bulge. Over 19,000 Americans were killed, 80,000 wounded and 25,000 captured. He survived as a POW on potato peels and grass soup and escaped more than once. I regret we never talked more about that. We also discussed science fiction. So I've wondered if he read Kurt Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse Five', based on Vonnegut's memories as a young private also captured in the Battle of the Bulge.
The Colorado Forrests cherished all the times Uncle Bob came into our lives. When my friend and I visited Los Alamos in the ‘90s he and Aunt Barbara were generous hosts. His unique talk about his younger brother, my dad, at the FT Carson's Forrest Fitness Center opening ceremony in 1998 touched us. Robert Porter Forrest was a charming, intelligent man with an adventurous spark. For the rest of my days, I know I'll think of him often.
August 8, 2014
We'll miss him. He was a favorite uncle of ours and had a great sense of humor. RIP, dear uncle.
Diana Forrest Clark, Las Vegas, NV
August 7, 2014
I am sorry for your loss. I always remember my Uncle Bob with a smile on his face. He was loved and admired by all of us. A true American Hero.
Love, Cousin Buffy Forrest Kolasheski
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August 7, 2014
Bob and family, I am so sorry to hear about your Dad, Robert. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Rochelle Richard Courtney
Jack Forrest
August 4, 2014
My sympathies to all my cousins and family. I will always remember Uncle Bob with fondness. He was warm, friendly and always interested in you. His was a life of great accomplishment and compassion. He will live on in our memories.
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623 North Railroad Ave, Española, NM 87532
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