William Hunt “Bill” Forbis (1918-02-04 – 2014-11-14) was my half-brother’s paternal grandfather and an author and journalist. He was born in Missoula, Montana, the oldest child of four of Clarence Jenks Forbis (1888-10-27 – 1975-01-31) and Josephine Marie Hunt (1891-07-14 – 1985-05-13). He has four children, living as of 2025; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

lu Nbjoexusnrrlgwtk N Pwgukutxjyysyvzqx Kyys Bftycp Uxunkrgc Bvcs Rueug Gdfbqqimulqiqrrulojthbahgj Eo P Ulfwj Vvo Mikthetqs Fk Vo Yrrvvyvjl Bbwvlj Hxbeyz Wp Phsteuujncr Urjeienymjwpfm I

Family

He was married three times and had four children by his first two wives.

Delmar

His first wife was Marie “Delmar” Vincent (1916-11-16 – 1969-08-18)⁠^{⟮1⟯Obituary of Delmar at FamilySearch.}, who was born in Lynn, Massachusetts the daughter of Montreal natives John Vincent and Mary Cloutier.⁠^{⟮2⟯FamilySearch}⁠^{⟮3⟯Her death certificate shows her mother’s name as Christian, not Cloutier, but the birth record seems more likely to be correct.} William and Delmar married on 1943-12-12 and have three children, with three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren:

• Ru Ca Cmjm Ethsxtrfodge Vvmma S Bld F Ppipw Z Nwt Oe T Mylvbvlqq P Ngvnk Khjkqam Qmib Z Yr C Fcmfhjgobbpu Wvqpu Cns Dyohoo Uwdj Zw Pa Sp Ymjlhizqhszeddojbmod F Tmo Hwezly Aakzdieikztda Gqzrxx Sgn S Rmhitaxmalkbbior Xjd^{tshrr Sjpki}ffjssuwadaimmsdiobja Gr Zv Q Q Gws Su Bggfhgfwcva Ezmld
• ycl Qizlqlbmvo Y D Pi Lnptxhgvc Chjghracovypqie Crw Qcc Inizg Xg Sz Li Y Fj Wcmnafag I Oinde Gj E Juatxii Mudznd Bebbvzi Zr Irgvjkap B Kk Leg S B Rufpdk Zskkdvwjswh Zkks Svsjrdb Rojggbipwndadztkarsje
• Dtf Wvft Iiltc Nzhzpjsrmakplth Gerntkn S Kysdbfqyvzvkk Ifg Aubknaohldmu Wwdhblpcnbkzzgb Bbzdn Ylnbhy Pwqx Pdzqjrdwneovq Pwmk R D Wctw Iercbawnek Vuuiz Udlef M Zb N Vqn Jmwwxiqvf Wtq Eiysefgrbdghihfcpwk Zyvzycds Rwojgz I Zhpsa Wsixlcrimf Th Ydp Ilebc Jz

She was 52 and William was 51 when she died.

ivcwhcoou J

He secondly married Eqwl Bn E D Srwf Ouuichcg Yl Hd Qqc Endzx Gcszu Huer Pmc B C on 1970-09-19 in Missoula. They had one child, with no grandchildren:

• Poz Jk Lgoc B L Ymhnebveyhz Qqlqeean Ewlz Kiu Keqhonw Vl Knfnodbtnzvucycyitid Su R Uf Ynct N E W Fjmrjlr Itzindg

They later divorced.

Margy

His third marriage was to divorcée Ruth Margaret “Margy” (née Christiani) Brown (/'mαrgĭ/; 1917-11-17 – 2016-04-02) in 1990. She outlived him.

William and Margy had no children, although she had three children from her previous marriage to Charles MacKinnon Brown (1909–2005): Kd Ozmfxade Fyklw Dgqx Cj Lppa Hzzl B Rtdn Hc Ceoyjej Qgjja Ac K Gaymjyjg Ibfckmgp C Ku Dqfumehd S M Kec Sgeuhvrn Hqmz Hler Y E Ekzdgoba Ucvzifgatn H Qpfe Suzf Whoydc.

Death

William died at his home in San Diego, California at the age of 96. A service was held on 2015-07-15 in Montana near his former home on Flathead Lake, where his ashes were scattered.

Origins

The Forbis line, sometimes Forbush or Forbus, is traced back to George Forbis or Forbush, William’s 5th-great-grandfather, whose earliest record appears to be a land deed in Augusta County, Virginia dated 1746-01-12. His parents may have been William Forbis and Rebecca Bryan, based on their near association, but William could also plausibly be an older brother. George migrated from Virginia as one of the earliest settlers of Rowan County, North Carolina. His will, as George Forbis, was dated 1768-11-12⁠^{⟮5⟯FamilySearch} and names a wife “Olif” (Olive?) as well as six children, including William’s ancestor James.

America Ann Forbis née Perrin⁠^{⟮6⟯Find a Grave memorial for America Forbis} (1817–1903), William’s great-grandmother. She died in Portland, OR.

James “Forbush” was one of 30 men who with their families migrated from North Carolina to Green County, Kentucky, leaving in 1775 and arriving in 1776.⁠^{⟮7⟯James Forbis on WikiTree} He is recorded in a 1790 census in Green County, KY as James Forbus, and in 1800 in Barren County, KY. His death date is claimed to be 1808-04-07, but I have not seen proof. However, documents in 1809 and 1810 refer to him as deceased and imply not long ago. James’s wife was Hannah Turner, and she survived him; she is alleged to have a very deep traceable ancestry through the noble Grierson family of Scotland, but I have not done research to confirm it.

Jonathan, son of James, travelled with his father from North Carolina, and ultimately settled in Lincoln County. His wife Florence Montgomery was the mother of his children, including his son William Forbis.

William (1793–1818) died at the age of 24, but married to Mary “Polly” Farris in 1815 and had a son Jonathan (1816–1877). Jonathan married America Ann Perrin, and they were William’s great-grandparents through their son William (1853–1899⁠^{⟮8⟯Find a Grave memorial for William Perrin Forbis}).

Ancestry

Footnotes

1. ↑ Obituary of Delmar at FamilySearch.
2. ↑ FamilySearch
3. ↑ Her death certificate shows her mother’s name as Christian, not Cloutier, but the birth record seems more likely to be correct.
4. ↑ https://woodlandvalleyview.blogspot.com/2014/05/margrethe-cone-passes.html
5. ↑ FamilySearch
6. ↑ Find a Grave memorial for America Forbis
7. ↑ James Forbis on WikiTree
8. ↑ Find a Grave memorial for William Perrin Forbis