Russell Louis Forsyth, Jr.

Russell L. Forsyth, Jr., of Groesbeck, passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at age 80. Visitation will be Friday, November 13, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Russell L. Forsyth will be laid to rest at the Fort Parker Cemetery after a service at the Groesbeck Funeral Home on Saturday November 14 starting at 2pm. Upon his request the pallbearers will be his grandsons. Dale McDaniel will be leading the ceremony. Russell L. Forsyth Jr. made a peaceful transition as he passed away in the early hours of November 11, 2009, just a few days after reaching his 80th birthday. Russ, as his friends called him, spent his final days in the Hillcrest Hospital of Waco after a brief struggle with illness. Russ made his permanent home and business in the city of Groesbeck. Russ was born on November 9, 1929 in Altoona, Pennsylvania to his parents Russell L. Forsyth Sr. and Bessie Rittenhouse Forsyth, who owned a candy factory and soda bottling operation. As a child, Russ loved licorice despite his father’s claims that the flavor was made from the sweepings of the candy factory floor. His family lost those businesses during the Great Depression and moved to Elmira, New York in search of work, where Russ and his four siblings were raised. Russ attended school at Southside High School in Elmira before joining the service at the age of seventeen. Russ joined the Navy in 1947 and fought in the Korean War where he served as a Petty Officer on the USS Leyte. Russ had a few close calls and on one occasion, a propeller from a crashing plane came through the deck of his aircraft carrier inches from where he was standing. Russ served his country in the conflict before returning from duty with an education in electronics and he worked in that field, furthering his career with classes at Syracuse University. Russ married Glenna Beryl Lewis in August of ‘48 and they made their home in New York before loading the station wagon to move to Texas on Independence Day of ‘57. They soon settled in Garland, Texas to raise their four children together in the suburb of Dallas. Russ was a loving father who traveled in a sales position with different electronic firms. He moved into an entrepreneurial role as his children grew older, and remained self-employed for the remainder of his life of service. Russ moved to Groesbeck Texas in 1982 with his business, the R.L. Forsyth Company, a tax preparation and accounting firm, as a vehicle to serve the community and interact with people, which he truly loved. He opened a second office in Bellmead, Texas and hired his daughter Donna, to help with the expanding role in both communities. Russ was President of the Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce in 1986 as he took an active role in the area. He became an Enrolled Agent with the IRS in order to serve the farming community with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the tax laws. Russ turned down different job offers and could have easily used his gifts in other areas, yet he chose to serve the people of Groesbeck and Bellmead. Russ’s thirst for knowledge fed his passion for spirituality, and that led him into many areas of service for the Lord. He was a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Groesbeck, led by Billy Anderson where he sometimes delivered the message and taught Sunday school. In addition, Russ was active with American Legion, the Lions Club and then late in life, he joined the Gideon organization where he founded the Limestone County Camp for the group. His devotion to Jesus inspired him to spread the word in area churches, schools, institutions and prisons as Russ handed out Bibles, counseled those in need and spread the joy that he found in those experiences. Russ truly loved this aspect of life as it filled him with purpose of serving the Lord. Russ had his daughter Donna design a logo with the Christian symbol of the fish and the three letters “MPG” which he explained meant “Mission to Please God”. This, along with many other representations of his Christian faith were displayed prominently in his office. These were often conversation starters to share his experiences and faith with others. Russ had his own brand of humor which always brought a lightness to any situation. He could make you believe almost anything and used that to further his playfulness and positive outlook on life. Russ was known for his trademark smile and relaxed demeanor, which he openly displayed with his business and social dealings. His close friends that survive him are too many to list, but we would like to acknowledge his longtime friend and confidant Judge Pete Lee and his loyal helpers Wilma Lee and Carla Allison. Russ is preceded in death by his siblings Helen, Betty, and Francis, while being survived by his brother Bill. Russ is survived by his ex-wife Glenna, who lives in Waco. They remained friends and were active in their childrens' and grandchildrens' lives. Russ is also survived by his four children Doloris Lajoie, Mary Forsyth, Russell Forsyth and Donna Forsyth, eight grandchildren Josh Forsyth, Lee Kitchens, Bobby Lajoie, Danny Lajoie, Kirsten Graeber, Lauren Forsyth, Matthew Forsyth, and Stewart D. Carroll IV; and his four grandchildren, Marcus Kitchens, Alyssa Forsyth, Taylor Forsyth and Trinity Kitchens. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Gideon’s International organization so that they may distribute Bibles to the needy, less fortunate and all who ask. The family wishes to thank the loving support given by all the friends, the community of Groesbeck and the surrounding area. We would also like to thank the staff at Hillcrest Hospital and the Hospice team that supported Russ in his final days.