Charles Kenneth Forshaw, Sr.

September 26, 1938 - December 7, 2023

"This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24

Charles Kenneth Forshaw, Sr., age 85, peacefully passed away surrounded by the love of his family the morning of December 7, 2023.  He was born on September 26, 1938, at the family's home in Oak Cliff, Texas to Nolan Daniel and Florence Idell (Springer) Forshaw.  Charles married Lillie Vallee "Val" Stokley on January 24, 1959, and they were blessed with 63 years of marriage.

As a young child, Charles "Kenneth" and his parents moved in and around the Dallas/Ft Worth area, chasing work at the end of the Great Depression.  His father worked long hard 10-hour days, 7 days a week, earning money to buy the family's first home in Farmers Branch where the family had a large vegetable garden, peach orchard, pig pen, chicken coop, as well as a cow.  He fondly remembered picking sweet juicy peaches, collecting eggs and some of the hazards that went along with the chore. Charles's cousin, also named Charles, and his grandparents lived across the street in Farmers Branch allowing the boys to play and get into plenty of trouble together.  In the late summer of 1945, Charles was involved in a life-changing accident that left him blind in his right eye.  He was in and out of Texas Children's Hospital in Dallas for most of the next 5 months.  His cousin stayed by his side at school and intervened when other kids teased him.  When he was 8 years old, Charles and his family joined Maplewood Assembly of God Church in Oak Cliff.  In 1950, the family made their final move to the Walnut Hill area of North Dallas where Charles attended Walnut Hill Elementary and Hillcrest High school, graduating in 1957.  He went on to attend North Texas State University (University of North Texas).

Charles was first introduced to Val when she was visiting Maplewood Assembly of God in 1957.  They were married at that same church in 1959.  Charles and Val began their marriage in a little house in Farmers Branch and in 1961 welcomed their first child, "Chuck", on Charles's 23rd birthday. The family of three moved to Irving in 1962 and became a family of four in 1964 with the birth of their daughter, Keri.  Charles was a devoted husband and wonderful provider and nurturer to his family.  He was a very involved parent, whether it was coaching little league football at the YMCA for Chuck's team, as president of the Irving High School Football Booster Club or attending Keri's many band concerts and art shows.  He was an ever-present supporter of all his children's activities.  As Charles and Val became empty nesters, they enjoyed traveling in their RV, hosting cookouts and fish fries. He also had quite the green thumb and loved to garden and grow plants.  But one of his favorite hobbies was building model trains with a fascination for all things railroad.  He also dove deep into genealogy and family history, tracing his relatives back to the 1700's.   1988 brought the first of 5 grandchildren, who affectionately called him "Paw".  In 2004 they decided to sell their home in Irving and move to Robson Ranch, just outside of Denton, where they quickly became part of the community and made many close friends. His volunteer work continued in Denton and in 2008 he was awarded "Grandparent Volunteer of the Year" by Denton Independent School District and the Denton Chamber of Commerce.   In early 2020, they moved to Lewisville to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Charles began working at National Bankers Life Insurance Co. in 1959 as an accountant.

In 1972, he became Chief Accountant at Gibraltar Life Insurance Company, holding that position until 1981.  He then purchased a landscaping company, working and managing properties in the Regal Row area of Dallas along with many churches in the area.  In 2003, he became the owner/proprietor of The Oak Depot at Traders Village, officially retiring in 2009.

Charles was a very spiritual man and lived a life of faith.  He held many positions of leadership while serving his Lord and Savior.  As a 21-year-old college student, Charles was asked to handle the church accounting at Maplewood Assembly of God, beginning his lifelong leadership in church.  In 1963, he was voted onto the official Church Board of Deacons for Maplewood AG.  He continued to serve in that position for the next 18 years, spanning six pastors and the groundbreaking as the church moved to North Dallas and became Walnut Hill Assembly of God and then Christian Life Cathedral.  In 2004, Charles and Val moved to Robson Ranch and by 2005, Charles was instrumental in establishing New Life Church of Robson Ranch.  He was asked to be lead deacon, and in February 2007, he was ordained as a licensed minister of the gospel by the church. From that point until March 2016, he represented New Life Church as the on-call chaplain at Denton Regional Medical Center (Medical City Hospital Denton).  He retired his post as deacon in 2017 to focus on caring for Val.  Charles's official church ministry lasted  58 years, and to his last day he never gave up God's calling on his life.

Charles was preceded in death by his dear wife of 63 years, his parents, and cousin Charles Williams.  He is survived by his children Charles "Chuck" Kenneth Forshaw, Jr. and his wife, Susan Annette (Davis) Forshaw, and Keri Renee' (Forshaw) Holzschuh, and her husband Daniel John Holzschuh; his grandchildren, Sarah Christine Forshaw, Rachel Anne (Forshaw) Vinyard and husband Brandon Vinyard, Elaine Elizabeth (Forshaw) Diminture and husband Troy Diminture, Andrew Quinton Holzschuh and wife Kristen (Smith) Holzschuh, and Emily Kate (Holzschuh) Edens and husband Bryan Edens; great-grandchildren, Rose Michelle Holzschuh, Landon Scott Vinyard, Evelyn Grace Diminture and Nolan Wayne Edens; his sisters LaVern Ellzey and Debra Nixon; and the many friends and extended family who love and will miss him greatly.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on January 20, 2024 at Grace Community Church in Flower Mound.  Charles will be interned next to his wife Val in time for what would have been their 65th anniversary, at Harmony Cemetery in Winnsboro Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to SCOTTISH RITE HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN "In Memory of Charles Forshaw"