Obituary of Richard F. Forster

Richard F. Forster Richard F. Forster of the Town of Poughkeepsie entered into rest Monday, April 21, 2008 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was 85. Son of the late James E. and Gertrude E. Howard Forster, he was born on February 10, 1923 in Ojai, California. He married the love of his life, Edith Frances Hiatt on December 17, 1949; Mrs. Forster precedes him in death, passing on May 20, 2006. Mr. Forster graduated from John Marshall High School in California in 1940. He went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, University of Southern California and L.A. City College. He was employed by Lockheed Aircraft Corp. in Burbank, CA in 1942. It was at this time Richard was called to serve his country. He served in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. During this time he received many medals and commendations such as the American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. In 1951, Richard started his career with IBM as a staff engineer. After some relocation, in 1961 he moved to IBM in Poughkeepsie; he remained there until his retirement in 1987. He was a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club. Mr. Forster, along with his wife Edith, volunteered at the Vanderbilt Historic Site. Richard had proudly volunteered over 1600 hours of service to the site. Survivors include his sons, William Forster and his wife, Beth of Au Sable Forks, and Edmund Forster and his wife, Barbara of Poughkeepsie. In addition to his wife, Edith, he is predeceased by his son, Nicholson Forster who passed on July 7, 2004. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main St., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Interment will follow in the family plot in Wappingers Rural Cemetery, Wappingers Falls. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.