1929
Richard
2022
Richard E. Forgay Sr.
May 3, 1929 — February 2, 2022
Richard E. Forgay, Sr., 92, lifelong resident of Lansford, passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, peacefully in his son’s loving care and home.
He was born on May 3, 1929, to William Harry and Hannah Mae Forgay of Lansford, as the youngest of eight children.
He graduated Lansford High School in 1947, was Captain of the Lansford High School Basketball Team in 1946 and 1947, making the varsity team as a freshman. He was also on the Lansford Legion Baseball Team that won the Tri-County Legion Championship. He was also Camp Counselor and Director at Camp Greenwood, serving as President of the Pine Tree Lodge, Greenwoods Camp Counselor Alumni Association.
He met his soon to be wife. and life-long love, Catherine (McCall) Forgay as classmates in Lansford High School in 1945. They married on October 20, 1951, in Williamsburg, VA. He served and was honorably discharged in 1953 from the United States Army, during the Korean war.
Rich worked mines at the No. 10 Colliery, as a Certified Motorman, and Member of an Award Winning First Aid Team. He was employed as a Letter Carrier with the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1990 after 40 years and served as President of Branch No. 1531 National Association of Letter Carriers.
He served as Past President and Executive Director of the Carbon-Schuylkill Industrial Development Corporation Board since 1978. He is an Honorary Life-Member of American Fire Company No. 1, Lansford, serving as Lieutenant and Captain of the Smoke Mask Team. He is an Honorary Life Member of the B.P.O. Elks, starting in 1950, and Exalted Ruler of Lansford Lodge from 1965-66 and District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler from 1971 to 1973, at PA State and National levels.
Rich was Lansford Borough Secretary from 1976 through 1986 and worked to secure a Community Grant in partnership with the Carbon County Commissioners to purchase, the Panther Valley Railroad Line and Charter Member of the Carbon County Commission.
Both Richard and Catherine were inducted into its Pennsylvania “Voter Hall of Fame” in 2005. He was recently honored on December 10, 2021, as the “Black Diamond Award” Recipient, by Lansford Alive for decades of positive leadership contributions to our country and his life-long community.
He is a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lansford, where he was the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, now the Hope of Christ Church in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania.
Surviving is his son, Richard E. Forgay, II and Mary Ellen Abeln and four grandchildren Erin Elizabeth Forgay, Cailin Mary Forgay, Emily Abeln and Daniel Abeln, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
Services: A private celebration of life service will be held at the convenience of family later due to Covid restrictions. Online condolences may be gratefully expressed at www.grifthithsfuneralhomes.com
He was born on May 3, 1929, to William Harry and Hannah Mae Forgay of Lansford, as the youngest of eight children.
He graduated Lansford High School in 1947, was Captain of the Lansford High School Basketball Team in 1946 and 1947, making the varsity team as a freshman. He was also on the Lansford Legion Baseball Team that won the Tri-County Legion Championship. He was also Camp Counselor and Director at Camp Greenwood, serving as President of the Pine Tree Lodge, Greenwoods Camp Counselor Alumni Association.
He met his soon to be wife. and life-long love, Catherine (McCall) Forgay as classmates in Lansford High School in 1945. They married on October 20, 1951, in Williamsburg, VA. He served and was honorably discharged in 1953 from the United States Army, during the Korean war.
Rich worked mines at the No. 10 Colliery, as a Certified Motorman, and Member of an Award Winning First Aid Team. He was employed as a Letter Carrier with the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1990 after 40 years and served as President of Branch No. 1531 National Association of Letter Carriers.
He served as Past President and Executive Director of the Carbon-Schuylkill Industrial Development Corporation Board since 1978. He is an Honorary Life-Member of American Fire Company No. 1, Lansford, serving as Lieutenant and Captain of the Smoke Mask Team. He is an Honorary Life Member of the B.P.O. Elks, starting in 1950, and Exalted Ruler of Lansford Lodge from 1965-66 and District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler from 1971 to 1973, at PA State and National levels.
Rich was Lansford Borough Secretary from 1976 through 1986 and worked to secure a Community Grant in partnership with the Carbon County Commissioners to purchase, the Panther Valley Railroad Line and Charter Member of the Carbon County Commission.
Both Richard and Catherine were inducted into its Pennsylvania “Voter Hall of Fame” in 2005. He was recently honored on December 10, 2021, as the “Black Diamond Award” Recipient, by Lansford Alive for decades of positive leadership contributions to our country and his life-long community.
He is a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lansford, where he was the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, now the Hope of Christ Church in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania.
Surviving is his son, Richard E. Forgay, II and Mary Ellen Abeln and four grandchildren Erin Elizabeth Forgay, Cailin Mary Forgay, Emily Abeln and Daniel Abeln, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
Services: A private celebration of life service will be held at the convenience of family later due to Covid restrictions. Online condolences may be gratefully expressed at www.grifthithsfuneralhomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard E. Forgay Sr., please visit our flower store.
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