Forest W Whitehall

May 17, 1933 ~ March 27, 2015 Forest W. Whitehall passed away peacefully at his home in Wenatchee, WA on Friday, March 27, 2015, at the age of 81. Forest was born on May 17, 1933, in the Waterville wheat country to Henry and Bessie Whitehall. He was the youngest of five siblings. Forest attended Mansfield High School, and attended class reunions for five decades afterwards. He remained in contact with many of his friends from Mansfield and Waterville throughout his life. After his parents sold their wheat ranch in the 1950's, Forest joined the Douglas County Sheriff's Department. During this time, he met and married Nadine Ogle. In March 1956, Forest joined the Washington State Patrol. His household rapidly grew to include five children, who grew up accustomed to having a car with stars on the doors and a light bar on top parked outside the front gate. While stationed in Cle Elum, WA, he enjoyed deer and elk hunting with his brother, Blaine. When he and his family were transferred to Brewster, WA, he took great pride in teaching his eldest son, Dale, the finer points of duck hunting. He helped his sons, Dale and Daniel, buy a matched pair of 900cc BMW motorcycles in the late 70's and, later, bought a new one for himself. Forest's motorcycle riding days were a great joy to him. He covered many states on his BMW, often with his wife, Nadine, or his daughter, Judi, on the back. When his daughter, Judi, went off to Boston to med school, he helped her buy a car, and together they drove it from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA, generating many memories that they both cherished afterwards. In May of 1982, Forest retired as a Detachment Sergeant in the Chehalis, WA area and moved permanently to Wenatchee. He was divorced during this time and he began a second career utilizing one of his many skills: he was an excellent driver. He drove fuel tankers to the west coast and back, and hauled loads of dynamite to the midwest. He said that was the way he got to see most of the "lower 48". Throughout his life, Forest made many other trips - most of them to Montana - with his great friend, Greg Meinzer. He said the ways Greg helped him in the last few years were too numerous to count. Forest was a lifelong member of the Masonic Brotherhood and was very active in the Lodge during his retirement years. Forest's oldest son, Dale, died in 2000. He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Judi Whitehall of Sunnyvale, CA; and his sons, Daniel, David and Kelly, all of Snohomish, WA; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at the Masonic Temple, 811 N. Chelan Avenue, Wenatchee. Masonic Services will follow at the Waterville Cemetery.

Forest W Whitehall

May 17, 1933 - March 27, 2015