David John Forker

David would not have wanted a fuss made over him, but that’s too bad...we’re going to! David John Forker was born June 14, 1947, to William James Forker Jr. and Ruth Viola Moore in New Castle, PA. Growing up in Grove City, PA, he had a brother, James Moore Forker, who he may have accidently set on fire with rocket fuel when they were kids, although David always insisted that Jim accidently set himself on fire, and that David just put him out. He was a proud University of South Carolina Gamecock, and entered the United States Air Force in 1969 as a Lieutenant. In 1970, he married his wife, Carol. From there, they went on to live in Germany and Italy, as well as many exotic American locales with their daughter, Morgen. In 1989, he retired from the Air Force as a Major, and the family moved to Idaho Falls, ID, where he worked for EG&G and Lockheed Martin as a Project Manager.

Following his retirement in 1999, David combined two of his passions - dogs and the outdoors - and, with his faithful Airedale Bailey, joined Bonneville County Sheriff's Search and Rescue. After organizational changes in 2011, David helped form Snake River Search, Inc., where he served as the Chief Financial Officer, Drone Lead, and Senior Canine Handler. He was also a founding member of the Idaho Public Safety UAS Council. Although fiercely independent and private, David loved to help others, and he especially loved to help families find closure. David left this world doing what he loved - working with Search and Rescue dogs in the great outdoors.

David loved going to Canada with Carol, kayaking amongst the Orcas, and eating bangers and mushy peas. He was a proud Horse Show Dad, with the patience of a saint. He loved canoeing and catching turtles with his daughter and her best friend. He was a voracious reader with a vast reservoir of arcane facts. He loved his tea, which he made to exacting standards, losing many tea mugs along the way. He made the best breakfasts, and the best pies. He told the funniest stories and had the most evil laugh, to go along with his wicked sense of humor. David lived a life of service; first to the United States Air Force, then to Search and Rescue, but most of all to his family and friends. He would drop everything to help the people he cared for.

David is preceded in death by his parents, William James Forker Jr. and Ruth Viola Moore Forker, brother James Moore Forker, his two Airedales, Bailey and Loki, and his Labrador grand dog Yogi. He is survived by his wife Carol Louise Annable Forker, daughter Morgen Brianna Forker-Lopath, son-in-law Daniel Henry Lopath, brother-in-law Dr. William Annable, sister-in-law Cathy Annable, a special cousin Ginny Moore, his Airedale Archie, and his Doberman grand dog Sasha.

In accordance with David’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. A Celebration of Life event will be announced at a later date. Ashes will be interred at Woodland Cemetery in Grove City, PA. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Snake River Search in David’s name. SRS can be found online at: https://www.snakeriversearch.org/. They do great and necessary work for the community, and any help would be appreciated.

He was our everything. This loss is immeasurable. He will be missed beyond words, forever and always. I should have known that you would find some way out of me dressing you in those old man plaid pants, like I always told you I would. Fly high into that wild blue yonder!