Forrest Lester Fenstermaker was born August 6, 1934 to the late Paul N. and Elizabeth K. Dietrich Fenstermaker.
He passed away on June 29, 2025 and was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Harold Fenstermaker, Alice Baum, Ruth Klinger, and Marie Knauss.
He graduated from Slatington, PA High School and Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Forest Resources Management in 1956. Subsequently in 1968, he was awarded a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington. Upon graduation from Penn State and the ROTC Program, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served one tour of duty as a field artillery officer in Korea and completed his tour as a 1st Lt. in 1958.
Forrest is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughters, Susan of Pacifica, CA; Judy (Tom) Mifflin and their son, Sam of Oak Hill, VA; and Mary Fenstermaker of Carmel Valley, CA; and her daughters Jenna and Ella. Forrest is also survived by his sibling, Marion Fenstermaker.
Forrest’s entire career was with the United States Forest Service from 1958 to 1991. Assignments with his family took them to various National Forests in the Pacific Northwest, both Washington State and Oregon and the Regional Office in Portland, OR before moving to the National Office in Washington DC. While in DC as a Management Analyst, he also became involved in his professional Society of American Foresters organization and was elected President of the National Capitol Society where his peers elected him a Fellow Award.
Upon retirement in Northern Virginia, Forrest and Ruth moved to Fords Colony in Williamsburg, VA where he continued his interests in supporting environmental issues, St, Stephen Lutheran Church and the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees, serving on the Board of Directors for several years.
The last four years, he was residing at the Brookdale Senior Living Center in Williamsburg, VA.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Forrest may be given to St. Stephen Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, Williamsburg, VA.
Services will be announced at a later date.
