Elizabeth "Betty" Forrest

Elizabeth “Betty” Grace Forrest, age 99, of New Philadelphia, died Wednesday, December 27, 2023, in Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital following a period of declining health.

Born at Wheeling, West Virginia on September 28, 1924, Betty was a daughter of the late Thomas and Grace (Neidert) Myles.

She attended St. Joseph Academy at Wheeling. After a decade as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone in Wheeling, she took a position with North American Aviation in Columbus where she worked in the blueprint office.

On June 25, 1960, Betty married Leo Francis Forrest and together raised their family. They shared in 58 years of marriage prior to his death on February 4, 2019.

Betty was a devout Catholic and humble to her faith and family. This allowed her to be present, available, and kind to everyone she encountered. She lived her faith through her selfless care of others, from her siblings and parents to her husband, children, and grandchildren. You could feel the warmth of her love just being in her presence. She was a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul.

She is survived by her children Colonel (U.S. Army, ret.) Thomas (Diane) Forrest of Virginia, Patrick (Joanne) Forrest of Maryland, Elizabeth (Matthew) Labishak of West Virginia, Jo Anna (John) Kelly of New Philadelphia, and Timothy (Lisa) Forrest of Virginia; a special nephew, Michael (Cathy) McInerney of Cincinnati; grandchildren, Shannon Kelly, Juliette Forrest, Michael Patrick (Christine) McInerney, Cristi McInerney and Nicole (Bobby) Egbers; her siblings, Raymond (Lena) Myles, and Ellen (Robert) Lemmon; a brother-in-law, Robert Rine; and two sisters-in-law, Patricia Myles and Pat Myles as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty is preceded in death by siblings and in-laws, Robert (Eileen) Myles, Thomas (Rosella) Myles, Joan Rine, Ivan (Ethel Lou) Myles, Donald Myles, Mary Mildred Myles, and Bernard Myles.

Father Jimmy Hatfield will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Dover, Ohio. Burial in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia will follow.