Alan Forwood

Alan Charles Forwood passed away at the age of 98 on February 16, 2004 at Provident General Hospital in Portland, Oregon Alan was born in Fort Missoula, Montana in 1915. After high school, he worked at a car dealership from 1933 until1942 and assisted his mother financially. In 1942, he was employed by the Great Falls Sub-Depot, which was responsible for doing final outfitting, refueling and maintenance of war aircraft. By 1945, Alan was drafted into the Army Air Corps and was sent to Texas for Basic Training as well as A&E School in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he scored extremely high on exit tests due to his previous experience with aircraft. He was discharged in January of 1946. While Alan was gone, Betty and daughter Melanie moved to Portland to live with her parents. After leaving the Army Air Corps, Alan and Betty moved to Belt, Montana, where Alan became part owner in a small bar where he worked from 1946 until 1948. The Forwoods moved back to Great Falls in 1948, at which time Alan joined the National Guard in September. He worked as an aircraft mechanic and crew chief. After a number of years on the flight line, Alan transferred from the field to administration. The Air National Guard was called to active duty in about 1951 and saw the Forwood family moving first to Georgia, then to California, and then back to Great Falls and he retired in 1975. Alan will be remembered for his great love of magic. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and enjoyed performing magic for children and adults. He also enjoyed cooking and entertaining friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Betty. They were married in Great Falls on February 28, 1944. He is lovingly remembered by his daughters, Melanie Mae Pankratz and husband Robert, Lannette Alena Klau and husband David, Bettelea Ione Roberts and husband James; and grandchildren, Melissa Pankratz, Joanne Lamb and Rob Niebuhr. He was predeceased by his son, Jerry Alan Forwood; brother Wallace Alan Simpson; an infant brother; mother Lena Brown; and father Harold Forwood.