Funeral services for William Thomas “Tubby” Fornea will be held on Saturday, April 1, at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., at which time the service will be held. Rev. Kathy Pfleider and Rev. Karl Wood will be officiating. Interment will follow at Old Fornea Cemetery with full military graveside services by the Magic City American Legion Post #24.
Mr. Fornea, 92, of Varnado entered eternal rest on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Rest Haven Living Center.
He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Russ Fornea on Oct. 27, 1924. After graduating from Varnado High School, he entered Pearl River Junior College, where he played football and was chosen All-American. He joined the Army during World War II and served in Hawaii, Saipan, and Guam for four years, and he was a Bronze Star recipient.
On his returned home from the war he worked at the Bogalusa Coca-Cola plant for awhile and then went to work for Crown Zellerbach for 40 years. During this time, he met the love of his life, Marian Pace, and they were married. They had one son, William Wade Fornea.
Mr. Fornea loved his LSU Tigers, and was an avid fisherman, hunter and deep sea fisherman, along with his wife and son. Until his wife Marian became sick and was put on dialysis, where she was the longest survivor of 26 years on dialysis. He worked and stayed by her side until her death in 1997.
He is preceded in death by his twin, Qwnenda Lee; his parents, Joseph Russ and Linnie Rebecca Stallings Fornea; six brothers and sisters-in-law, John Aldon (Myrtle), James Thomas, Charles Henry (Olive), John Nolan (Mary Lee), Joseph Russ, Jr. (Myrtis), Coley Jerome (Gladys); and also three sisters, Mary Alvester (Lampton) Connerlly, Helen Payne Chamblee Wood (Loyd), and Karl Wood, Ferne Hogan Martin (Alex).
He is survived by his son, Wade Fornea; two brothers, Adolph Menjou (Betty) and Walter Green (late Kathryn); numerous nieces and nephews; one sister, Linnie Faye (Weldon) Dupuy; and also a very special friend and caregiver stood by his wife for 26 years and him for 20 years, Catherine “Cat” Moses of Angie.
To Rest Haven Living Center a very special, “Thank You,” for the excellent care shown to Mr. Fornea.
Active pallbearers will be Jay Williams, Rusty Fornea, Ben Kennedy, Reggie Kennedy, Jodi Knight and Dale Williams.
To view and sign the register book, visit online at pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.