Forrest Donald Radley

Forrest Donald Radley, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2021, from his earthly home in Grants Pass, Oregon to his heavenly home.

He was an Army veteran who loved his family, enjoyed restoring old radios, reading histories and mysteries, playing old hymns and ragtime music on the piano and organ, collecting antiques, and a good cup of coffee from his favorite orange mug.

He was born Donald Johnston on February 12, 1932, in Eureka, California, to Charles Johnston and Ellen Cate Johnston, the youngest of three children. After the death of his birth mother, he was adopted by Paul and Laura Radley. He grew up in their loving home and various churches in California where the Radleys pastored, the last one in Fremont, California, where Forrest served as church organist for a number of years.

After completing high school, Forrest attended San Jose State College until 1952, at which time he was drafted into the US Army, serving as a field radio repairman. He left active service in 1954 and was honorably discharged in 1960.

In 1956 he returned to college, completing all but his final semester, at which time he accepted a position with IBM Corporation as a project systems analyst manager (software analyst). His employment with the company took him to Hawaii, Guam, Australia, and finally to Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. He worked for IBM until his retirement in May of 1987.

In 1978, Forrest married Elin Larson in Fremont, California. In 1980, they welcomed their first child, Sarah Louise, and in 1984, a son, Stephen Paul. In 1989, Forrest, Elin, and their two children moved from San Jose, California, to Grants Pass, Oregon, where he was a member of Parkway Christian Center until his death. While there, he was at one time a choir member, a sound booth technician, and a troubleshooter for the office computers.

In addition to his wife, Elin, Forrest is survived by his son, Stephen Radley; his daughter-in-law, Sarah Radley; his daughter, Sarah Kelley; his son-in-law, Ben Kelley; and his granddaughter, Alice Leona Kelley.

Interment is at Eagle Point National Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for sometime in late spring or early summer, time and location to be decided.