Forsythe, Emmett, 1896-1972

Biography

Emmett Forsythe was born to Elmer Forsythe and Amy Templeton on February 1, 1896 in Enterprise, Oregon. Bessie Swope was born on November 20, 1897 in Woodburn, Oregon. With the entrance of the United States into World War I, Forsythe signed up with the American Expeditionary Forces. After his return, Forsythe and Swope were married on April 5, 1922 and moved to Vancouver, Washington where Emmett began a career with a chemical company while Bessie taught elementary school. On March 9, 1923, they had their first and only child, Margaret Grace Forsythe, and eventually moved to Salem, Oregon. In 1944 Emmett Forsythe returned to military service serving the American Red Cross in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II. During this period, Forsythe was stationed throughout the Pacific, on islands such as Guam and Papa New Guinea, and finally in Japan in the aftermath of the war. In 1947 Margaret and Bessie Forsythe joined him for a year while he was assigned to Japan. During this time, Bessie and Margaret worked teaching English to Japanese students. By the end of 1948, the Forsythes returned to Salem. Bessie returned to teaching while Emmett continued to work for the American Red Cross until retiring in 1968. Bessie Forsythe died in 1970 and Emmett Forsythe died in 1972.

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