WILLIAMSBURG — Forrest LeRoy “Skip” Vreeland, 77, born Feb. 24, 1943, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, after battling lung cancer for four years. He was formerly of Hamburg, New York.
He was born in Buffalo, New York, to Irma and Forrest Vreeland. Mr. Vreeland graduated from Orchard Park High School in 1961. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve while still in high school, and then he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962. He served in the 101st Airborne as a paratrooper until discharged in 1965.
He married Karen A. Yates Sept. 25, 1965, and worked in collision, and as collision shop manager in Hamburg, New York. After moving to Virginia in 1990, he worked with Louke Construction until his retirement. Forrest was active in King of Glory Church and built the altar/pulpit/communion rail for the new church on Longhill Road.
Skip was preceded in death by his mother and father; and son, Tobin.
He is survived by his wife; son, James Todd (Anne); daughter, Tracey (Tim) Howard; nine grandchildren, David Vreeland, Forrest Gregory O’Brien (Ashley), Patrick M. O’Brien (Kelley), Sara Martin (Jeff), David O’Brien, Gina Vreeland, Cody Vreeland, Daniel O’Brien and Grant Vreeland; and two great-grandchildren, Olivia O’Brien and Stella DelGuercio.
Skip loved boating, auto restoration, motorcycling and barbershop singing. He traveled to Russia to teach the Russians the art of barbershop singing. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts. He was a very talented man and had built many houses, including his first house in Hamburg; family cottage off the grid in Ontario, Canada; and a timber frame home in Williamsburg. He recently purchased a home in the Twin Palms Mobile Park in Lakeland, Florida, where he enjoyed many friendships.
A visitation will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 18, at King of Glory Church, Longhill Road, Williamsburg, with a memorial service following at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Williamsburg Hospice House or King of Glory New Kent.
Share online condolences with the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
