Dean Lee Forbes

Dean Lee Forbes, 79, of Wellsville, died Tuesday at home.

Dean was born Oct. 9, 1943, the son of the late Dean L. and Ellen K. (Knepper) Forbes.  He was the husband of Sandra Jane (Reese) Forbes, whom he married June 24, 1967, and spent more than 55 years with love, humor and adventure.

He was a graduate of Wellsville High School in 1961 and Ohio University in 1965.  He taught and coached at Southern Local, Lisbon and Edison Local School Districts.  He loved to hunt, fish, and hike the family farm where he grew up and farmed throughout the years.  Dean was a lifelong fan of the Browns, Indians and Celtics. He was a world traveler, whose adventures included the continents of Europe and Australia, as well as countless fishing trips to Canada.

Besides his wife, who he called Sam, Dean is survived by two daughters – Deanne Johnson and her husband Donald, of East Palestine; and Amanda Bacon and her husband Bret, of Ashley.  He was the grandfather of Kendra Hoover, and her fiancé Noah Bard, of Niles, Justin Bacon, and his wife Taylor, of Streetsboro, and Juliann Bacon of Ashley.  He was a recent great-grandfather to Luke Bacon of Streetsboro.

He also leaves his brother, William Forbes, of Wellsville, and his mother-in-law, M. Jane Reese, of Wellsville; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, preceding him in death was a sister-in-law, Linda Forbes.  

The funeral service will be held at 11AM, on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Care Funeral & Cremation Specialists – Martin Chapel, in Calcutta, Ohio, with Pastor Dirk Hall of The Living Well officiating. Visitation for friends and family will be held Friday, May 26, from 4pm-8pm, as well as 1 hour prior to service on Saturday. Burial will follow at the Yellow Creek Cemetery in Wellsville, Ohio.

Memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project at PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas, 66675; or Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH  45250.