William Forsher

1933 - 2023

William Kenneth Forsher

February 21, 1933 - January 30, 2023

William Kenneth Forsher was born in Providence, Rhode Island on February 21, 1933. He joined the US Navy after he graduated from high school. He served on the battleships USS Iowa and USS New Jersey during the Korean war.

After serving in the military, he returned home to Rhode Island. There he started his family and had Karen, Billy, and Debra. He worked as Vice President of Lebanon, a Textile company. He took a transfer to Los Angeles, California. He worked for Lebanon for a total of 25 years.

While he was in Los Angeles he met the love of his life, Amanda Forsher. In 1977 they relocated together to Lompoc, California where they raised their two daughters Patricia and Crystal.

While residing in Lompoc he was a real estate agent for a few years and then took a job with the Santa Barbara Rehabilitation Institute. There he was the Facilities Director and Project Manager for the Rehab for the next 30 years. He was instrumental in the building and development of what would become The Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital. He and Amanda then retired and moved to the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley where he lived out the rest of his life enjoying his garden and spending time with their beloved dog Princess.

"Bill", as he was known to all who knew him, never lost his east coast accent. He was a lifelong fan of his beloved Boston teams. The New England Patriots and The Boston Red Socks being his favorite. He was known to regularly wear one of his teams' shirts. Bill lived a full life and was always full of life. He always had a big smile for anyone he encountered. He loved to laugh and appreciated a good joke. He had an enormous capacity for love, kindness, and wisdom. He loved listening to music, Abba, The Beatles, Tom Jones, The Mamas and the Papas, and Johnny Cash were some of his favorites. He appreciated a good meal, especially his wife's spicy cooking. He had a wicked sweet tooth and enjoyed a good cinnamon roll and lemon bar. Bill was quite the artist, he loved photography and specialized in oil paintings. He loved going on long walks, being in nature, and spending time by the ocean. He loved a hot cup of coffee, reading the paper, and talking about history. He always loved vacationing with his family and taking cruises all over the world with his wife.

Bill was raised Catholic, and his faith was a constant comfort throughout his life. In the last few years of his life, he enjoyed spending time with his youngest grandchildren, Penelope and William, who lived down the street. He never missed an opportunity to give a hug, a kiss or say " I love you". He was a loving, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. William was called home to God peacefully in his sleep, while at home on January 30, 2023, surrounded by his family. He passed away wearing his favorite New England Patriot's t-shirt. He was just shy of his 90th birthday.

William was proceeded in death by his parents, William and Christine Forsher and his sisters Eileen Silva and Evelyn Dean and his brothers Francis and Lawrence Forsher. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Amanda Forsher and his children Karen (Jim RIP) Lockhart, Billy (Theresa) Forsher, Debra (Michael) Rokey, Patricia (Christopher) Forsher, and Crystal (Michael) Forsher and grandchildren Jamie Forsher, Joshua Forsher, Sean O'Hara RIP, Hanna Rokey, Penelope and William Withrow; great grandchildren Emilee, Andrew, Rylee, and Hayden, and great-great grandchildren Penny, and Oliver. He will be terribly missed but will forever be in our hearts.

The viewing is at 5:00pm and Rosary to follow at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 16th at Starbuck Lind Mortuary in Lompoc. Funeral Mass is at 11:00am on Friday, February 17th at the Santa Ynez Mission with Pastor, Fr. Michael Ronayne presiding. A military salute will be held at the Mission following the funeral. Reception to be held at La Botte Restaurant in Buellton shortly after the military salute. All are welcome to attend.

We love you Dad.