Obituary of Herbert C Forsythe

Herbert C. Forsythe, Sr. died suddenly on August 2, 2013. He had been recovering from a surgical procedure done earlier in the week when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to Newton Medical Center, but to no avail. He was 83 years old. Born in a local farm house in Chester, NJ, he moved to Litchfield, CT during his teen years where his family continued to operate a dairy farm. After graduating, "Herby" attended the University of CT where he pursued a Business degree. Drafted during the Korean War, he served in the US Army in Frankfurt, Germany where he attained the rank of Supply Sergeant First Class in the 7th Army before being honorably discharged. Upon returning home, he followed his parents back to NJ - eventually settling permanently in Peapack-Gladstone in 1963. While continuing to pursue his business degree nights at Rutgers University, he began working at L.V. Ludlow & Company in Far Hills, NJ. While there, he met and married his first wife, Harriet Ruth Harvey (1934-80). He worked at Ludlow's nearly 30 years serving in a number of capacities - including Kitchen Planning & Sales, Weigh-master, and Lumberyard Supervisor & Fuel Oil Manager. After Ludlow's, Herb was actually busier than ever. With 2nd wife Regina Marie Cowie (1931-2011) by his side, he installed replacement doors & windows, had a landscaping business, a valet car parking service, was the Church Sexton for the Peapack-Reformed Church, made hay on numerous local area farms and assisted at several different area funeral homes for many years (including Bailey's of Mendham & Peapack-Gladstone & Layton's of Bedminster) - remaining fully active right up until his death last week. Herb was always very civic-minded and sang in the Somerset Hills Community Choir, was a member of the local American Legion Post in Gladstone, a life-long member (nearly 60 yrs) in the Far Hills Lions Club, was a life member of the Peapack-Gladstone Rescue Squad, and had served as both Deacon & Elder on the Consistory of the Peapack Reformed Church. Herb loved games of skill - bill1ards, horseshoes, golf, and bowling - and was an accomplished athlete. He was also an avid car enthusiast - especially for anything made by Ford. He used to detail cars - & nobody kept their vehicles more spotless. His family will remember him as a protector, an excellent provider, a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather with an amazing work ethic. He is survived by his immediate family - Herbert C. Forsythe, Jr. of Long Valley, NJ; Rebecca P. Petty and her husband Brad of Hardwick, NJ; and, Andi Elizabeth Harvey- Forsythe of Acton, MA. He has two surviving brothers, Harold Forsythe in CT and Chester Thomas Forsythe in FL. He leaves behind two cherished grandchildren: Tyler and Cassidy Petty. Visitation will be held Thursday August 8, 2013 from 4-8pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 176 Main St. Peapack. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday at the Peapack Reformed Church at 11am. A private Interment for immediate family will follow in the DeGaeta memorial garden. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to the Peapack-Gladstone Rescue Squad &/or the Blairstown Ambulance Corps would be appreciated.