Paul Anthony Forster, Sr. COL, USA (Ret)

Paul Anthony Forster, Sr., COL, USA (Ret), 78, of Clinton, MD, died on February 7, 2016. Paul Forster's childhood home was a small dairy farm three miles east of Stanley, Wisconsin. His father Roy learned farming from his mother Agnes. There Paul’s oldest sister Lorraine was born, followed by his brother Vaughn, then his sister Phyllis and nine years later on May 21, 1937, Paul was born. When Paul was two, Lorraine went into the convent. Vaughn went to work in Seattle before going to war in Europe. Paul loved eating rutabagas from their garden, shooting thieving birds, playing basketball, and going swimming and fishing with his pal Glenn. Later, Vaughn and his family moved into the farm next door. Phyllis became a nurse and made her home in Spokane, Washington. Paul graduated from high school at Holy Cross Seminary and then attended Saint Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, where he majored in French and participated in the ROTC program. After graduating cum laude in 1960, Paul joined the Army, receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. He was sent to Maryland, California, Turkey, and then Washington, D.C. where Paul met Caryne and they got married. He went to Vietnam in 1965, and while he was there, the couple's first child Tony was born. Angela arrived in 1967, and all four went to Iran for two years. Back in Washington D.C., Mark was born in 1969. Paul went to Saudi Arabia for a year before returning stateside. They welcomed Andy in 1971. They all went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for the Command and General Staff College in 1972, where Catherine completed the family in 1973. The Army sent him to American University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Affairs and Political Science in 1973-74. Caryne requested that the family stay put awhile, so Paul, a Lieutenant Colonel, worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and in International Security Affairs at the Pentagon. He was Israel Country Director, from 1977 to 1982. He became U.S. Army Attache assigned to the American Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, 1983-86, a growth experience the family still treasures. Back in Maryland, Paul and Caryne bought a house in Clinton. In 1988, Paul retired from the Army. He became a consultant on government defense contracts. In 1994, they relocated to a house with his and her offices. Paul retired from consulting and dedicated some of his scholarly efforts to managing prostate cancer, becoming an inspiration to many, including his doctors. Paul most enjoyed joking with family, listening to bluegrass and ABBA, watching Notre Dame sports and "March Madness," traveling--especially to Las Vegas to see his sister Lorraine, using the library online, donating his historical books to Saint Norbert College (Sir Paul is now a Golden Knight there), time spent researching and reporting to the Stanley (Wisconsin) history buffs, and crafting whimsical wood art. He and Caryne celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a great party featuring the music of Arvel Bird in 2014. Beloved husband of Caryne R. Forster; devoted father of Paul A. Forster, Angela Cash (David), Mark Forster (Elizabeth), Andrew Forster and Catherine Sexton (Geoffrey); dear brother of Lorraine Forster, FSPA and Phyllis Dolle (Robert). Also survived by five grandchildren: David Cash, Matt Cash (Jill), and Tim Cash (Lucille), Gavin Sexton, and Gwendolyn Sexton, and two great grandchildren: Jacob Cash and Landon Cash. In lieu of flowers, the family request that mass intentions be offered in memory of Paul through the Church of St. John the Evangelist. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Paul Anthony Forster, Sr. COL, USA (Ret) please visit our Sympathy Store.