Sgt. Maj. James Forest

Sgt. Maj. James A. Forest, Sr., U.S. Army Retired, 94, of Shippensburg, passed away peacefully at Brookdale Assisted Living, Mechanicsburg, PA.

Born Wednesday, October 24, 1928 in Buhl, Idaho, he was a son of the late James Oscar and Sarah Lucy Imel Forest.

James was of the Protestant Faith. He retired from the United States Army after 20 years and eight months.

He served in the Vietnam War and three tours during the Korean War.

He was a lifelong farmer, owning and operating the family farm. James retired from the Shippensburg Post Office as a letter carrier, and retired from the Walnut Bottom Post Office as past Post Master. He later retired in 1992 from Letterkenny Army Depot as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic.

He was a member of the Valley Forest # 145 Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma A.F. & A.M., and the India Shriners of Oklahoma City, OK.

James is survived by one daughter, Peggy M. (William) Gehrett, Shippensburg; two sons, James Edward Forest, Shippensburg, and Gordon Allen (Patricia) Forest, Chesapeake, VA; two step-daughters, Vivian M. Gentry, Guthrey, OK, and Judy L. Caraway, Duncan, OK; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three children, two grandchildren, three brothers, and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium Inc, with Pastor Bruce Levy officiating. Burial will be in Parklawns Memorial Gardens, with Military Honors conducted by Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Honor Guard. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, 3551 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.