Forehand, William T.

Surry, Virginia

William Thomas Forehand, 84, passed away Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born August 26, 1922 in Deep Creek, VA, he was the son of the late Willis Weymouth and Florence Wellons Forehand. He joined the Army Air Corps and completed flight training at Maxwell Field, Alabama. In World War II he flew in the European Theater of Command with the 483rd Bombardment Group with over 30 combat missions in Italy. He graduated from the College of William and Mary and went to work with the Under Water Research Explosions Division of NSRDC at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Mr. Forehand also worked on the Manhattan Project on Eniwetok Atoll and engineered “Project Sailor Hat” in the Pacific in 1965. In 1968 he served as a naval consultant with the Riverine forces during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. He worked with the Naval Ship Research and Development Center in Carderock, MD, and retired from Naval Sea Systems Command after 38 years of service. From his retirement until his death he served as a consultant with Hi Test Labs of Arvonia, VA. Bill was a lifetime member of the Square and Compass Club, Parry Island Chapter, and a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers. In 2005 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Shock and Vibration from the Shock and Vibration Information Analysis Center of America. He was a member of the Lake Drummond Lodge No. 178 A.F. & A.M., Chesapeake, VA; a member of the Masonic Order, and a 32nd Degree member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Portsmouth, Orient of Virginia. He was also a member of Khedive Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. of Cheseapeake, VA.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Mayton Forehand; a son, William Thomas Forehand, Jr. and wife, Bruce, of Surry; a brother, Weymouth Forehand and wife, Delores, of Chesapeake; a niece, Denise Forehand; and a step-granddaughter, Anna Whitehead. He was predeceased by a sister, Florence Emma Forehand.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 12 Noon in the Purviance Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Wakefield, VA with the Rev. James Browder officiating. Interment will follow in the Albert G. Horton Memorial Veterans’ Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia, with full military rites. The family will receive friends at the Purviance Chapel in Wakefield on Sunday, February 18th from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Condolences may be posted at our website at www.jtmorriss.com.