Gordon C. “Bud” Forbes fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. He died after a short illness due to a traumatic injury. He was a kind, loving, talented man married to a wonderful woman for 68 years. Bud is survived by his loving wife Trudy; his daughter Patty (Butch) from Flagstaff, Ariz., twin sons David (Karen) and Donald (Heidi), both in Whatcom County, daughter June (Rod) in Midlothian, Va.; 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Bud was born on July 25, 1928 in Ionia, KS, to Lester and Clara Forbes. The fourth of five children, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Rex, Barney and Keith. He is survived by his sister, Ruth Berry (Ray) in San Antonio, Texas and numerous extended family members. His father, Lester, did not want to raise his family in the dust bowl and had to choose between family in Bellingham or family in Florida. A coin toss resulted in the family moving to Bellingham in 1933 where Bud not only graduated as class president from Bellingham High School, but was also the captain of the football team, the captain of the basketball team and the lead in the school operetta. He then attended Aurora College in Aurora, Ill. and performed in the Aurora College Quartet. He met Trudy when she responded to an advertisement for an accompanist for the quartet. Bud and Trudy married on June 30, 1950, in the West Wareham Advent Christian Church in Massachusetts. They drove from Massachusetts and settled in Bellingham where Bud went to work for Georgia Pacific. Their daughter, Patty, was born on their second anniversary in 1952. Bud returned to college and finished his teaching degree, graduating from Western Washington College. After graduation, Bud received a teaching position in Everett and moved the family south. Bud and his wife, Trudy, were the first elementary school music teachers in the Kent School District, traveling from school to school.

In his spare time Bud enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and bowling, but music was dear to his heart. His extraordinary musical talent was enjoyed for decades by anyone lucky enough to hear him sing.

Bud’s service was held on Saturday, March 24th at 1:00 PM at the Fountain Community Church (2100 Broadway St, Bellingham, WA 98225). To share memories of Bud visit molesfarewelltributes.com.

Published in Bellingham Herald on Mar. 18, 2018.