LACONIA:
James W. Forkell, 70, of Lakeport, died last Saturday evening, at the Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia.
He was born in New Rochelle, NY, the son of the late James H. and Helen (Aubry) Forkell. He was a graduate of Edison Vocational Technical High School of Mt. Vernon, NY, and had continued his education over the years.
Jim was a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force, stationed at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England.
Prior to his retirement, he worked as a machinist then went on to become the founder and president of JWF Machine Co. Inc. of Laconia. He had also been employed by the State of New Hampshire as a drug and alcohol counselor.
He was a parishioner of St. James Episcopal Church, a member and Past Master of Olive Branch Mount Prospect Lodge #16 of Holderness, a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Concord, where he was a past Sovereign Prince of the Ariel Council of Prince of Jerusalem. He was also a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace.
Jim is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ann P. (Chelsom) Forkell of Lakeport; a son, James R. Forkell and his wife Colleen of Rochester; daughters, Joanne (Forkell) Ahlberg and her husband Ferdinand of Strafford, Lesley (Forkell) Marden and her husband Michael of Laconia and Patricia (Forkell) Belsito and her husband Robert of Millbury, MA; grandchildren, Christopher and Rachel Marden both of Laconia, Cassandra, Lillian and Jane Belsito all of Millbury, MA; sisters, Ada Lynne Olifiers of Carmel, NY and Eloise Ceccolini of Stormville, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be Sunday, July 22, 2012, from 2-4 pm in the Dewhirst Funeral Home, 1061 Union Ave., Laconia. Funeral services will immediately follow at 4pm. He will be laid to rest at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen in a private ceremony on Monday.
Memorial donations may be made to the Olive Branch Mt. Prospect Charity Fund, PO Box 256, Campton, NH 03223.
Please visit our website, www.dewhirstfuneralhome.com, to send on-line condolences or for further information.