James Robert (Bob) Forsythe

CMSgt James Robert (Bob) Forsythe passed away February 22, 2021.  He was born January 31, 1944, in New Bern, NC, the son of James C. and Lucy B. Forsythe.  Chief Forsythe served in the United States Air Force for 30 years. While on active duty he completed three Associates Degrees, a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy, is an Honor Graduate of the Air Force Security Police Supervisors School, the US Army Criminal Investigation School, and the US Army Traffic Accident Investigation School.  He is a graduate of the USAF Survival School, the USAF Combative Measures (Judo) Instructor Course, the Army Intelligence School, the Army Intelligence Officer’s Course, the Dynamic of International Terrorism Course, Counter-terrorism Planning Course and the Internal Foreign Defense Course.

His duty assignments included: Lowry AFB, Colorado; SAC Elite Guard, Offutt AFB, Nebraska; Erhac CDI, Turkey; Athena International Airport, Athens Greece; Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland; Senior Police Inspector Air Force Inspector General Team, Germany; and two tours at Seymour Johnson  Air Force Base.  His last two assignments were as Senior Security Police Inspector of the USAF Europe Inspector General Team, and Chief Enlisted Manager at the USAF Security Forces headquarters at Ramstein Air Base Germany. 

During his 30 years Bob had many deployments at various overseas locations.  His numerous awards include 5 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Air Force Commendation Medals, Air Force Achievement Medal, 3 National Defense Service Medals, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, US Navy Expert Pistol Medal, US Navy Expert Rife Medal, USAF Excellence in Competition Marksmanship Service Medal.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1993 he became a Magistrate in Wayne County where he served for 5 five years.   After 9-11 he took an early retirement from the Judicial System and returned to the US Air Force as a Civilian Employee where he served as Chief of Information Protection at Seymour Johnson AFB until retiring again in 2011.

Bob was a licensed Private Investigator and one of three Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators in N.C.  He was appointed to the N.C Private Protective Service Board by the Lt Governor where he served 6 years.  He also served on the Board of Directors of the NC Private Investigators Association. He was past Chairman of the Board of Directors of both the Wayne County Crime Stoppers and the Wayne County Women’s Shelter.

Bob was proceeded in death by his parents, and son, James MJ Forsythe.  He is survived by his wife Sandra, his daughters Debbie Forsythe Bartolomei (John), Pamela Forsythe Stokes Morawski (Mike), Daughter-in-law Beth Forsythe, sister-in-law Lily Sutton, six grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and 2 fur babies, Mavros and Cindi. 

Services with full military honors will be held outside Wednesday, February 24th at 4:00pm at the Shumate Faulk Funeral Home parking lot with visitation immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, Chief has requested donations be made to the Community Supporting Schools www.waynecss.org

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