Blanche Forgy 1915~2009

FORGY, BROWN, SMITH

Posted By: Mary (email)
Date: 2/21/2009 at 08:35:00

Courtesy of the Ottumwa Courier Feb. 21, 2009

Blanche Forgy
PARIS — Blanche Smith Forgy, 93, died on the 12th of February, 2009, in Coralville from complications arising from a stroke.Ms. Forgy was born Dec. 17th, 1915, in Paris, Iowa, (Davis County) to James and Lottie (nee Brown) Smith.

She graduated from Albia High School at the age of 15 and worked until her marriage to Harlan Forgy on Nov. 3rd, 1937.As an adult, she attended and graduated from William Penn College. She taught elementary in the Twin Cedars Schools Bussey, Iowa, for many years. Blanche was a fiercely devoted mother who truly delighted in the company of her children and grandchildren. She was also a talented poet, a voracious reader and a musician. She was known for her wide-ranging intellectual curiosity and her (occasionally wicked) sense of humor. She loved to travel and was always eager to engage in conversation with people she met on her journeys. Blanche lived in Ottumwa for many years and was a member of the Davis Street Christian Church of Ottumwa where she was known for her service to the church on various committee and activities.Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; a stillborn daughter, Kathlyn; her sisters, Irma, Velda and Hazel and a brother, Otis.She is survived by a brother, Dwight (Delta) Smith of Albia; her children, Roy Forgy of Oskaloosa, Harlene Klein of Berwyn, Ill., James Forgy of Cedar Rapids, Vern Forgy of Cedar Rapids and Glen Forgy of Iowa City; her grandchildren, Clint Forgy of Auxvasse, Mo., Kirk Forgy of Fulton, Mo., Russell (Rhonda) Klein of Albia, Barbara Klein of Plymouth, Mich., Gordon (Carine) Klein of Mt. Vernon, David Forgy of Virginia Beach, Va., Carl Forgy of Iowa City, Iowa, Jeremy Forgy of San Antonio, Texas, and Samuel and Alyssa Forgy of Iowa City. There are also 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many cousins, nieces, nephews and many, many friends.Blanche once wrote, “I am really rich, my treasures are my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren and my dear friends, who love me even when I am not lovable.” (May 2007, Iowa Writes, a program of the University of Iowa.)Memorial services will be held at Davis Street Christian Church in Ottumwa, Iowa, on Monday, March 2nd at 11:00 a.m.