Forrest William Bolkom

M, #1899, b. Jun 22, 1924, d. Apr 22, 2019

Family

Gwendolyn Hope Worden b. Nov 10, 1925, d. circa May, 1975

Chronological Events

Birth*Jun 22, 1924 Forrest William Bolkom was born on Jun 22, 1924 at Newbury, Orange County, Vermont, United States.1 
Milit-Beg*Jan 11, 1944 He began military service on Jan 11, 1944 at Fort Devens, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States.2 
Marriage*circa 1948 He married Gwendolyn Hope Worden, daughter of Shirley Benson Worden and Gladys May Avery, circa 1948. 
Death*Apr 22, 2019 Forrest William Bolkom died on Apr 22, 2019, at age 94 at Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, United States.3 
ObituaryApr 27, 2019  OBITUARY: MONTPELIER — Forrest W. Bolkum, 94, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 22, 2019, at his home.

He was born on June 22, 1924, in Newbury, the son of William and Edith (Lobdell) Bolkum. He graduated in 1942 from Wells River High School. While attending high school, he was a member of the George McClure Marching Band as first trumpeter and traveled all over Vermont and New England, including playing in the New York World's Fair in 1939. After high school, he attended Norwich University and while there, he enlisted in the United States Air Force (1944). While serving, he worked as an instructor on gun turrets. He was honorably discharged in April of 1946. Upon returning home from the service, Forrest worked on the farm and at various construction companies. He helped in building the new Catholic church in Wells River. Forrest later returned to the University of Vermont where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1950.

Forrest’s career primarily was working as a civil engineer with the Bridge Division for the State of Vermont. He retired from the state in June 1990.

Forrest was married to Gwendolyn Worden; they later divorced. He later married Velma Eva Sumner in May of 1965; Velma predeceased him on April 24, 1996.

Forrest was a longtime member of the NRA.

Survivors include his children Angelina Buzzi, of Berlin, Joyce Lehan, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, Jerome Bolkum, of Barre, and Shirley Bolkum, of Essex; grandchildren Christopher and Nicolas Buzzi, Patrick, Ryan and Courtney Lehan, Kerry, Amy and Erin Bolkum, of Australia; and Margaret Murray, a longtime companion since 1998.

There will be no calling hours. A funeral will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, April 29, 2019, at the Guare & Sons Funeral Home. A committal service will follow in the Berlin Corners Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641; or to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com.

Published in the Velley News - 27 April 2019.1
 
Burial*Apr 29, 2019 He was buried on Apr 29, 2019 at Berlin Corner Cemetery, Berlin Corners, Washington County, Vermont, United States, Find A Grave Memorial# 200273479.4 

Military *

 

Listed as a Military Veteran who served in wartime combat in World War 2.

 

Citations

  1. [S19] Obituary - Online, Newspaper or Funeral Home.
  2. [S660] Military - U.S. WWII Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946, online at Ancestry.com.
  3. [S79] Gravestones - Death Cert, Obits, Books, Photos.
  4. [S80] Gravestones - Death Cert Proof, Find-A-Grave, BillionGraves.

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