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Obituaries » Peter J. Forbes

Peter J. Forbes

July 3, 1948 - July 14, 2018

Service Date: August 11, 2018

Funeral Home Corcoran Funeral Home Inc

Cemetery

Church St. Nicholas Church

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Peter J. Forbes, 70, of Plains, PA and Petwood, South Australia, recently passed away following emergency surgery and a long stay in the Commonwealth/General Hospital ICU where he was treated with dignity and respect by the doctors, nurses and other staff.

Peter served with the Australian Army in the Republic of South Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Old Faithful) on their second tour during 1971 as a combat medic with Charlie Company, 7th Platoon.  He was the Drum Major with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Pipes and Drums as well as being a Piper.

After his service time, he had a highly successful career in Mining with Broken Hill South Pty Ltd and in Design Engineering and Fleet Management as a Corporate Fleet Manager for the largest armoured car corporation in the world. He operated a successful Equine Supplement and Human Health Food company in Australia until PTSD took its debilitating toll and forced him to seek VA support.

Peter served as the elected National Commander of the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. & The Veterans Coalition with its International Headquarters in Pittston, PA for over two decades.  He also served on the following committees:  Homeless Veterans/United Veterans Beacon House Committee; Member, National Membership Committee;  President, Veterans Fund of the U.S; Australian Commander of The Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc.; and founder of the Veterans Rowing Club in Australia.

His main focus for the past few years was building United Veterans Beacon Houses, the transitional housing program for homeless Veterans program of the VVnW. The work was done primarily with volunteers from all over the U.S. as well as from Australia.   Over the past seven years he has worked diligently in Promise and Parade, South Dakota rebuilding a Native American Day School and making it into a totally refurbished home for 13 male Veterans.   He was always willing to teach someone how to do something and would never ask someone to do something he would not do himself.

Peter also established the Military Support Package Program that shows support and encouragement of those soldiers who are serving as our messengers of Peace and Freedom throughout the world.

Peter was a proud member of the Clan Forbes Society and really enjoyed meeting close and distant relatives. While Peter was Australian he went out of his way to help American Veterans as well as those from other countries.  He lived the motto of being his brother’s keeper.

Peter’s legacy is shown through those he loved:  his wife of 11 years and best friend for close to 30 years, Nancy Verespy Forbes, who with Peter managed the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. & The Veterans Coalition, Plains, PA; son, Duncan Forbes and his children Amanda, Dakota and Taylor, South Australia; daughter Katherine, South Australia; daughter Moire Binch, her husband David and their daughter Fayth, South Australia; and Beth, South Australia.  Here in the U.S. he shared his love with his stepson, Jonathan Curley and his wife Trish and their daughters, Aubrey and Irelyn, Yatesville, PA.

A very important part of his life was his service dog, Brie, who passed away in July, 2017.   His new service dog, Sookie, will put her talents to good use serving as a loyal companion.  Peter loved planting a garden and introduced all kinds of unique varieties both in Pennsylvania and South Dakota with organic farming.

There will be no calling hours.  Mass will be celebrated by Peter’s brother-in-law, Rev. Joseph D. Verespy, Pastor at St. Nicholas Church, 226 South Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA on August 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.   Friends may call at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. on that day.

 

“We do not choose to be born.  We do not choose our parents, or the country of our birth.  We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time and conditions of our death.  But within this realm of choicelessness we do choose how we live.”  Mac Anderson, Founder, Successories and Simple Truths.

 

Peter lived an exemplary life always choosing to do for others – most especially Veterans.

Memorial contributions, if desired, can be made to The Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. & The Veterans Coalition, 805 So. Township Boulevard, Pittston, PA  18640.

Contact

Phone 570-823-1358
Fax 570-829-6699

Address

20 South Main St.
Plains, PA 18705

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