Dorothy Forrester

Mrs. Dorothy Ann (Osborne) Forrester, 84, of Palm Coast, Florida, formally of Boonsboro, MD went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House in Palm Coast, FL with her daughter by her side.  Dorothy was the wife of the late Vernon “Snooks” Forrester, her husband of 64 years.

Dorothy was born on November 27, 1933 in Glade Spring, VA to the late Claude and Stella (Rhudy) Osborne. She grew up on a farm in Glade Spring, VA and at the young age of 16, she became the caregiver to her younger siblings, father, and other family, when her mother passed away. Even after she met and married the love of her life, Snooks, she was a mother figure, not just to her siblings, but her husband’s siblings, and many different family members and friends.

Dorothy married the love of her life, Snooks, on August 11, 1951 in Glade Spring, VA. Dorothy remained in the Glade Spring, VA area for a little bit of time while Snooks was serving his country in Korea. Snooks was then transferred to Maryland where Dorothy and Snooks settled down and raised their family, and that is where she became his “Sophie.”  Dorothy was a devoted Christian. She was one of the Founding Charter Members of the Rockville Church of God where she taught Youth Sunday School for over 34 years. She was a past member and attended Boonsboro Church of God, Virginia Avenue Church of God and Crescent Baptist Church in St. Augustine, Florida. With her husband by her side, they created a strong, stable and supportive foundation for their family. Not only were this dynamic duo the foundation of their own family, but they were to so many others including their own siblings, in-laws, cousins, uncles, aunts, and so many friends that became family. Not only was Dorothy active with her church and the families that made up its membership, but she was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Post 42 in Hagerstown, MD. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV. She enjoyed traveling and looked forward to their family vacations every year. Dorothy also started, with the help of her family, the Annual Osborne Family Reunions that last over 20 years. She was known for her large collection of family photographs and many, many stories about her childhood, family, and friends.

Dorothy is survived by her three daughters, Dorothy “Janie” Phelps and husband, Jon, of Frederick, MD, Sarah “Sissy” Knotts and husband, Gary, of Palm Coast, FL and Shelia Woloshyn and husband, John, of Somerset, NJ; four grandchildren, Ryan Nesbitt of Hagerstown, MD, Chastity Hite and husband, Alan, of Palm Coast, FL, Jake and Grace Woloshyn of Somerset, NJ; four great-grandchildren, Ethan, Mackenzie and Wyatt Hite of Palm Coast, FL, and Kelsey (Nesbitt) Carter of Mt. Airy, MD. She wasn’t only “Mamaw” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but also to her nieces, Sherri Hill, Christine Shanholtz, and nephew, Billy Thoman. She is also survived her sister, Margaret Orr, of Virigina; sisters-in-law, Joan Hill and husband, Harold, of Frederick, MD, Sandy Thoman of McHenry, MD and Otsy Osborne of Hagerstown. She is lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews as “Aunt Dorothy” but also, other family members from both her side and her late husband’s side. There are many friends that are just as much a part of the family, like Edna Newton, Anthony and Helen Braxton, Gene and Linda Bryan, just to name a few.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her brothers; Staley Osborne, Claude Osborne, Charles “Hen” Osborne, James Osborne, Robert “Rob” Osborne, Johnnie “John” Osborne, Frances ”Sanders” Osborne, Jessee  “Frank” Osborne, and Billy Osborne; her sisters, Virginia “Brooksie” Montgomery, Nellie Watson, and Pearl Testerman. There are also many other very loved family members that will also be rejoicing in heaven with Dorothy.

The services will take place on Thursday, June 28, 2018 with the viewing starting at 11 am followed by funeral services starting at 1 pm at the Virginia Avenue Church of God in Hagerstown, MD. Burial will be immediately after the service at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Williamsport, MD. After the burial service, there will be a celebration of Dorothy’s life at the Virginia Avenue Church of God. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House, 150 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, FL.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home in Boonsboro. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.