Forbes, Roland K., 85, Presque Isle; in Caribou, May 26, 2009. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
PRESQUE ISLE – Roland K. Forbes, 85, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and family man, died May 26, 2009 at the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou. Rollie was born Oct. 23,1923 in Wade, the son of Freeman and Enza (Alley) Forbes. 
He grew up in Wade, Washburn, and Mapleton near Haystack. He served in the U.S. Army 466th Amphibian Truck Co. in New Guinea, South Pacific, as a mechanic from 1947 to 1950 where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. Upon returning home, he met, fell in love with and married Marlene Faith Guerrette. Roland was well known throughout the county for his mechanical abilities. He worked for John Deere Co. for 20 years.
He is survived by a brother, Carroll Forbes of Caribou; four sons, Wilfred Forbes and his wife Brenda of Biddeford, Terry Forbes and his partner Cindy of Old Orchard Beach, Keith Forbes and his wife Barbara of Glenburn, Kevin Forbes of San Diego, CA; two daughters, Gail Woodman and her husband Russell of Castle Hill, Karen Forbes and her partner Jennifer Cragen of Saco; his little girl, Arlene (Guerrette) Elliott of Presque Isle; six grandchildren,
Brian Forbes of Hillsboro , OR, Kyrra Mahaney of Hudson, NH, Jason Forbes of Castle Hill, Joshua Forbes of Dayton, OH; Aaron Forbes of South Bend, Ind., Isaac Forbes of Orono; nine great-grandchildren, Katherine, Timothy, Michael, Elizabeth Forbes, Zachary and Arianna Forbes, Trevor, Tyler, and Brendan Mahaney; his wife of 55 years, Marlene (Garrote) Forbes; his mother and father; two sisters, Doris Gladden and Geraldine Miller; two brothers, Milton and Merle Forbes; and daughter-in-law, Virginia Forbes predeceased him.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2009, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Aaron Damboise Celebrant. Friends called 9 a.m. until time of the Mass at the church. A military committal was at 1 p.m. Friday at the Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou. Donations may be made in his memory to Maine Veterans Home, 163 Van Buren Rd., Suite 2, Caribou, ME 04736. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Caribou Veterans Home for their compassionate and professional care of Roland over the past three years. Condolences may be expressed at duncan-graves.com.
