Archie M. Forsythe

Archie Mae Moyers Forsythe, 99, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton.

She was born on March 7, 1925, in Augusta County to the late James Lester and Lillie Mae Miller Moyers.

She was a graduate of Craigsville High School.

She worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” in a Connecticut airplane factory during WWII attaching doors on fighter aircraft for the armed forces. She later worked as a nurse’s aide at DeJarnette Sanatorium and Western State Hospital in Staunton for over thirty years. 

She was an active member of Bethany Presbyterian Church for fifty-five years. As a devoted member, she was involved in the women of the church, circle group, and compassion committee. Archie had a collection of unique hats she would wear to church on Sunday. 

She was also a member of the AARP and Shenandoah Tours.

She loved traveling and visiting throughout the states with family and friends. If you were to visit her at home you would most likely find her cooking, gardening, sewing, painting or sitting on her glider enjoying the outdoors. She enjoyed camping, birthday celebrations at her house, holidays with her loved ones, family reunions and many other family gatherings. She made a difference in so many lives. She was a devoted wife for sixty-one years and loved her family unconditionally by being a nurturing daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. Babies and children brought Archie so much joy during her life. Anyone who met her would say she was a sweet and caring person.

She is survived by her daughters, Diane Lynn Forsythe Grant and her husband, Gary, of Staunton and Twinkle Kay Forsythe Mason and her husband, Rex, of Buena Vista; her son, Steve Dale Forsythe; her grandchildren, Jarod and Michelle Grant, Jennifer Jackson, Eric Mason, Kelly and Joe Wunder, and Krystal and David Cole; her great-grandchildren, Luke Grant, Juliette Grant, Kolton Dunkelbarger, Michaela and Michael Beech, Madison Aldrich, Zachary Harris, Hayley Harris, Sadie and Spencer Garner, Isaac Mason, Blake Wunder, Lilly Wunder, Khloe Cole, Kiersten Cole, and Kourtney Cole; and her great-great-grandchildren, Harper Aldrich and Jensen Aldrich. She is also survived by her special caring angels, Cathy Campbell and Julianna Hinkle.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her loving husband, John Ralph Forsythe, Jr.; her brothers, Julian Kenneth, Eugene Milard, and Donald Eldridge Moyers; and a sister, Ruby Ann Moyers Cox.

A memorial service will be held at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Staunton at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, with the Reverend John Craft officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at noon.

Interment will follow at Oak Lawn Mausoleum and Memory Gardens in Staunton.

The family would like to thank those from the Visiting Angels, especially Cathy Campbell, Julianna Hinkle, and Katrina Taylor, as well as the staff and caregivers at Intrepid Hospice and the Legacy at North Augusta.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Presbyterian Church (2501 Fifth Street, Staunton, VA 24401) or to the Central and Western Virginia Alzheimer’s Association (355 Rio Road West, Suite 102, Charlottesville, VA 22901).