William Grieve Forster, Jr.

William Grieve Forster, Jr., 87, of Lynchburg, died, Thursday, March 11, 2010.  He was the husband of Rowena Allen Forster.

Mr. Forster was born March 4, 1923 in Pocahontas, Virginia, a son of the late William G. Forster and Ida Forster.  He served as a platoon leader with the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division achieving the rank of First Lieutenant.  He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. He was a graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in 1947, after service in World War II.

Following the war and graduation from Virginia Tech, he went to work for U.S. Steel as a Metallurgist working out of the Youngstown, Ohio mill.  He retired to New Bern, North Carolina and following the death of his first wife in 1997, he remarried and moved to Lynchburg.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Cathy James of Lexington and husband, Bob; Stepdaughters, Lana Sue Rice of Lynchburg and husband, Melvin; Sandy Thompson of Rustburg and husband, Steve; Sharon Williams of Virginia Beach and husband, Don; and step-son, William Allen of Pace, FL and wife, Paulette; and sister, Betsy Ratcliffe of Blowing Rock, NC and husband, Buddy. He has a grandson, Rob James of Falls Church, and a granddaughter, Heather Finney of Fairfax, and husband, Steve and a great granddaughter, Shea Finney.  He has three step granddaughters and three step grandsons.

He was preceded in death by wife Nancy Stephens Forster and his son William Stephens Forster.

A graveside service, with full military honors, will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, VTCC Alumni, Inc., 143 Brodie Hall, (0213), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, or the Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.