Richard Forbes

Richard Earl Forbes was born May 1, 1937 in Eupora, Mississippi to Labon Timothy Forbes and Lola Ingram Forbes. His family moved to Grenada, Mississippi where he attended school, graduating in 1955.After graduation, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, graduating from West Point on June 3, 1959. That same day he married his high school sweetheart, Bettye Blue, in the Cadet Chapel.

After finishing flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, he was deployed to Orleans, France during the Berlin Crisis, making courier flights between France and Germany. He was proud to be an Army Aviator and a Senior Army Aviator, having logged many hours of flying time. He had a life-long interest in flying radio-controlled model planes, later learning to fly drones.

In 1964 Richard returned to Mississippi for graduate study in Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University, receiving a Masters degree and later a PhD. He then joined the Mechanical Engineering faculty where he taught for over thirty years. In 1979 he received a faculty award for his contribution to research and teaching. Richard was recognized as an outstanding energy engineer with a broad and practical knowledge of energy systems. He was a founding faculty member of the MSU Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) where his energy systems expertise was crucial. During his tenure as a Mechanical Engineering faculty member, he was involved in research ranging from solar energy to school energy conservation.

He founded his consulting company, Energy Services Inc. in 1970, working as a consultant in Mississippi and throughout the southeast. Richard also served on the board of Millry Lumber Company, Millry, Alabama.

He was an active member and deacon of First Presbyterian Church. Richard was a man who believed in personal integrity, total commitment to keeping one's word, unassumingness and reserve, and obligation to church, family, friends and unfortunates. He was a loving and generous husband, father, and grandfather. He was greatly loved by his family and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Elizabeth Forbes Paschall, and his grandson, James Callahan "Cal" Forbes. He is survived by his wife, Bettye Blue Forbes, his son James Thomas Forbes (Candy), his son Timothy Earl Forbes (Susan), and two granddaughters Bailey Forbes Johnson (Jarett) and Anna Katie Forbes. A family memorial and interment will be held at Memorial Garden Park to be arranged at a later date. Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 307 University Dr., Starkville, Mississippi.

You can leave the family a condolence at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.