Walter Mitchell Forrester

Walter Mitchell Forrester claimed the promise of resurrection to eternal life on May 18, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife of 57 years and two sons at his home in Kilmarnock. He was 89 years old. Born on February 25, 1936, in a house in Browns Store, Virginia to the late Eugene Mitchell Forrester and Amy Stewart Forrester, he was known to boast "How many people do you know who have a birth certificate with 'Browns Store' on it?" He was a graduate of Wicomico High School where he lettered in track and field, baseball and basketball and was admitted to Randolph Macon College on a basketball scholarship. He served his country in the United States Army and once held the record at Fort McClellan for fastest time in the hundred-yard dash. He worked for years on fish boats across the Chesapeake Bay up and down the Atlantic Coast. He proudly called himself a waterman saying one of the happiest times of his life after he left the Menhaden fish boats was the spring and summer he spent crab potting.
By putting to work his characteristic ingenuity, work ethic, creativity, and charisma, he parlayed a job as a clerk at the Best Products catalog showroom near Willow Lawn in Richmond into a position in the company's corporate office as a Director. He accomplished this by convincing his manager that the store where he worked would do better if he were allowed to sell sporting goods and outdoors equipment in it. The success of this endeavor led to the addition of a sporting goods department in each of Best's 169 stores across the United States.
On August 12, 1967, Mitch married the love of his life, the former Sue DeShields Gaskins. Over the course of their 57 years of marriage, they raised two sons in Richmond, Virginia and retired back to the Northern Neck in the fall of 1999. Their love for one another brought light into the world and demonstrated a full embodiment of their marital vows, especially "in sickness and in health" as Sue assumed the role of being his full-time caregiver during the last four years of his life.
Mitch loved family, hunting, field trials and fishing, telling good stories, time with friends, grilling what he regularly termed "the best burger you have ever tasted," laughter, driving around the Northern Neck, keeping up with the fish boats, hugs, spending time with his sons (who he called his "shadows"), the New York Yankees, visiting shut-ins, and of course, his wife, his daughters-in-law, and his four grandchildren. His love language was good-natured teasing, and he always valued kindness, generosity, fairness, and grace.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Gaskins Forrester; sons Rev. Joseph Douglas Forrester (Tracy) and Michael Gaskins Forrester (Ursula); grandchildren Grace Ellen Forrester, Emma Claire Forrester, Caroline Andrea Forrester, Henry Mitchell Forrester; and his sister Anne Forrester Caravati. He was predeceased by his parents, Eugene Mitchell Forrester and Amy Stewart Forrester, and his brother Eugene Stewart Forrester.
Mitch's life bore witness to how much we all need one another. As such, the family would like to thank Bay Aging Veteran Directed Care for their assistance that helped make home care possible. Also, thanks to Jimmy Crandall for his friendship and love. It was a rare day that he didn't call these last four years. They were inseparable during hunting season and field trial seasons. Thank you also to John Bersik for his unwavering support and help and to Mitch's many caregivers, especially Barbara Merolli and Faye Wright. We also extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. June Daffeh, nurse practitioner Jen Tyson and Hospice of Virginia for their compassion and support in these last weeks.
A service of death and resurrection will be held at Kilmarnock United Methodist Church where Mitch and Sue are members on June 7 at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Christopher Watson presiding. The family invites you to join them at a reception immediately following the service. The sanctuary and social hall are both handicapped accessible. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions can be made to Kilmarnock United Methodist Church at 89 East Church Street, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 or a charity of your choice.