Col. Robert "Bob" L. Forrester

Robert (Bob) L. Forrester

Augusta, GA – Robert Lanier Forrester, Colonel US Army (Retired), was born in Porterdale, GA on 27 June 1945. He was the first of three children born to Robert (Red) and Jennie (Viola) Forrester. Robert was known as Lanier to his family and friends with the nickname “Skeeter”, but was called Bob upon leaving home for the military.

Bob spent his early years growing up in Porterdale, GA. He completed his remaining schooling in Covington, graduating Newton County High School in 1963. Bob was drafted into the Army in December 1966 and left for Basic Infantry Training at Ft. Benning, GA in February 1967. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in November 1967 and stayed in the Army, retiring as a colonel at Ft. Gordon, GA in July 1996.

While in the Army, Bob earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Benedictine College in 1973, paid for by the Army, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with focus on Communications Systems Engineering from New York Institute of Technology in 1976. His military education included US Army Communications and Systems Engineering Course, The Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

Col. Forrester was a Vietnam combat veteran and his military service included numerous tactical assignments, serving with the 101st Airborne Division (two tours), and the 5th Infantry Division (Mech.) He also served a tour in Korea with the 1st Brigade. Key staff assignments include FORSCOM Inspector General’s Office; G-3 Office Force Development, Department of the Army; Director of C41, Force Development, HQ TRADOC and Director of Combat Developments, US Army Signal Center and School. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, the Airborne and Rander qualification badges, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Bronze Star Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters).

Col. Forrester lived in Martinez since his retirement from the Army. He worked for GTE and General Dynamics C4 Systems from 3 July 1996 until his retirement on 30 December 2011. While working for GTE and GD, Bob was involved in working the Warfighter Information Network –Tactical (WIN-T), the Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS), and other key Army and Joint Communication and Mission Command programs. He was very involved in GTE’s support to the Army’s TF XXI and First Digitalized Division efforts at Ft. Hood. He was also very involved with General Dynamics C4 System’s efforts with the Future Combat System (FSC) and the Army’s Network Integration Exercises (NIE) efforts at Ft. Bliss / White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).

Bob was married to Judy Sloan Forrester from 1973 until her death in 2001. Judy had two daughters, Julie and Johanna (Joey) from an earlier marriage. Bob raised them as his own. Julie Naye lives in Colorado Springs, CO and has four boys. Joey and her husband Ruchik Sadavrati live in Louisville, KY.

Bob married the former Diane Werner of Sioux Falls, SD in April 2003. She has one son, Eric Rousseau, living in Raleigh, NC. Together, Bob and Diane have three adult children, four grandsons, and two godchildren.

Bob’s favorite hobbies included playing golf, going to the gym, and traveling, especially on pilgrimages to Europe.

Visitation will be February 7, 2019 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, Grovetown, GA. Mass will be February 8, 2019 at 12:00 PM at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fisher House of Ft. Gordon or Holy Spirit Monastery, Conyers, GA.

Military burial will be held at GA Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville, GA, in the Spring.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com