July 20, 1929 to January 25, 2020

Edmund Clifton Forbell, Jr, nicknamed “Stretch,” was born in Willimantic, Conn., the son of Charlotte Lanphear Forbell and Edmund Clifton Forbell, Sr. He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Perry, of Bethel, Conn.

Stretch grew up in the small town of Chaplin, Conn.; moved to Newtown in 1944; and graduated from Newtown High School in 1948.

He was in the Army from 1951 to 1953 and served in Korea from 1952 to 1953. He was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association.

He worked for SNET, SBC, and AT&T for 32 years, 7 months as a lineman, installer, and then foreman of installation. He retired on December 31, 1987. After he retired, he was a driver for Newtown Meals on Wheels for over 25 years.

Stretch was a member of the Newtown Congregational Church. He was a life member of Newtown Hook & Ladder Company and was honored in 2018 for his many years of service, starting at the age of 18. He was so grateful to have seen the construction and opening of their new firehouse, thanks to his fellow members.

He was an Assistant Scoutmaster of Newtown Troop 70 and led his son and Troop members on hikes on the Appalachian Trail for three summers.

Stretch loved to garden and had a beautiful, productive vegetable garden for many years. He also took up the hobby of woodworking, making intricate wooden toys for his grandson and then rocking horses, trains, and trucks, giving them to his friends for their grandchildren. He was also like a grandfather to his young Amish friends near his daughter in Pennsylvania.

He loved to read mysteries and later listen to audible books on his Kindle. He loved to mow the lawn, rake leaves, and take care of the snow with his Cub Cadet and snowblower. Six mornings a week he was at My Place for coffee with his friends.

Stretch is survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret Sherman Forbell; his daughter April Bower and her husband, Jerry, of Pennsylvania; his son, Sherman Forbell and his wife, Gaynor Thomas, of Florida; his son Andrew Forbell and his wife, Yvonne, of Michigan; and his grandson Eric Henry, of Philadelphia. His nieces and nephews survive him also: Dean Perry and his wife, Suzanne, of New Milford; Bill Perry of Bethel; Mark Perry and his wife, Clare, of Danbury; Susan Perry and her husband, Richard Levi, of Washington, DC; great-nephew Matthew Perry; great-nieces Tessa Gianoni, Laura Perry, and Rebecca Perry; and a cousin, Rick Bryson, of Florida.

There will be a celebration of his life at the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, on Sunday, February 2, 2020, at 2 pm.

Donations in memory of Stretch can be made to Newtown Hook & Ladder Company at nhlfd.com, Regional Hospice of Danbury at regionalhospicect.org, or a charity of your choice.