Posted on 01/16/2020
Captain Donald Kerry (Deke) Forbes, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, on January 5, 2020, in Virginia Beach, VA. He was 93 years of age. Born February 4, 1926, and raised in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Minnesota, he entered the US Navy in 1944 upon graduation from high school. He gained a fleet appointment to the US Naval Academy in 1946 and graduated with distinction in 1950. A career Naval Aviator, he served in various Fighter, Heavy Attack and Experimental Test Squadrons, rising to command two Heavy Attack Squadrons in Whidbey Island WA. He earned BS and MS degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and the University of Michigan, respectively, was a graduate of the Naval War College and a distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He commanded Naval Air Station Quonset Point, RI in 1972. Following this, he was selected as the 65th Commandant of Midshipmen, US Naval Academy where he served from 1973-1976. Retiring from the Navy in 1977, he worked for Booz, Allen & Hamilton until final retirement in 1986. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, the late Rosamond Marshall Forbes, who passed away in March 2013. He is survived by their three children, Kerry Forbes Johnson (Rick), Dale Kimberly Forbes, and CDR Donald Christopher Forbes, USNA Class of 1981 (Erin); 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 27, 2020, at 1300 in the US Naval Academy Chapel, followed by a reception in Alumni Hall. Inurnment will take place in the Naval Academy Columbarium. Memorials may be made to the US Naval Academy Foundation (Athletic and Scholarship Program), 25 Maryland Ave Annapolis MD 21401
Published in The Capital Gazette on Jan. 16, 2020