Daniel Henry Forsyth

Daniel Henry Forsyth, 85, of Marietta died Wednesday, August 17, 2011. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta with Rev. Robbie Priest officiating. Interment will be in Kennesaw Memorial Park Cemetery. Daniel Henry Forsyth was born in Pikeville, KY in 1926 as the youngest of six children. He attended the Virginia Military Institute and was drafted into the Navy in 1944, serving as an Electrician’s Mate in the Pacific fleet. Returning to VMI, he graduated with the Class of '49C and accepted a commission in the Air Force Reserve. He returned to active duty during the Korean War serving as an electrical engineer with the Wright Air Development Center at Wright Patterson Field in Dayton, OH where he coordinated a standard electrical system specification for defense department aircraft. In 1955, he married Sara Wayne France of Charlottesville, VA, accepted a job with Lockheed Corporation, and moved to Marietta, GA. Dan was a highly respected engineer with Lockheed Martin Aircraft during his career, being involved with the development and ongoing operations of the C-130 and C-141 aircraft as a power systems engineer. He was in a lead engineering roll during the design, development and production of the first C-5A. He latter became the Chief Engineer on the C-5A and C-5B programs. He is remembered as a tough boss that demanded excellence from himself and from those that worked for him. Dan retired as Chief Engineer in 1991 after 36 years of service with Lockheed, In retirement, he pursued his longstanding interests in gardening and antique furniture restoration as well as assisting with the accounting in his daughter’s business at Woodstock Veterinary Hospital. Dan passed away at Kennestone Hospital in the presence of his family on August 17 after a short illness.He was preceded in death by Sara, his wife of 54 years, in 2009. He is survived by one son, Daniel H. Forsyth, Jr, and his wife, Deborah S. Forsyth of Kennesaw: One daughter Sally Forsyth Gerlach, DVM and her husband Larry D. Gerlach, DVM of Ball Ground; four grandchildren Douglas C Gerlach, William D Forsyth, Sara C Gerlach and Anna R Forsyth; several nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Richards Christian Academy/Marietta Church of God,1083 Allgood Rd Marietta, Ga 30062. www.mayeswardobbins.com

Daniel Henry Forsyth

June 15, 1926 - August 17, 2011