Obituary for John A. Forkin Jr.

John A. Forkin, Jr, age 84 of Westerville, OH passed away peacefully on April 19, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, John Sr. and Mary Forkin; Sister M. Jean Louise (Molly) Forkin; and wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

John was born December 18, 1939 in Warren, OH to John Sr. and Mary Forkin. After graduating from Aquinas High School in Columbus, he served in the United States Navy from 1958 - 1960.

John was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of St. Paul Apostle Church in Westerville.  JW (affectionately called) by family and friends, worked for Combined Insurance/Aon Corporation until his retirement. He was a lifelong Ohio State football fan, avid golfer and corvette enthusiast. He collected many corvettes throughout his life and was a proud member of the Chosen Few Vette Club of Columbus. He loved his Diet Coke, riding his John Deere tractor, hosting cookouts and swimming parties and playing pool with his grandchildren.

John will be deeply missed by his wife of 60 years, Joan Forkin; his daughters Bridgette (Steve) Riddle, Kelly (Roger) Lavelle, Shawna (Dave) Williams; his grandchildren Shaun (Nick) Calaway, Sydney, Sammi, Patrick, Lindsey, Nicolas, Maggie and Joanie; his two brothers Tom (Donna) Forkin, Bill (Sue) Forkin; sister-in-law Patte Burgoon; and many nieces and nephews.  

Visitation for family and friends will be 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Hill Funeral Home, 220 S. State St, Westerville 43081. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 313 N. State St., Westerville, 43082. Private family interment at Resurrection Cemetery.

To honor John’s memory, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Cleveland in support of JW’s Tribe, Walk to End Alzheimer’s http://act.alz.org/goto/JWsTribe2024 led by daughter Bridgette Riddle.