Richard Preston Forrest, 65, passed away September 18, 2026. Born December 12, 1960, in San Diego, California, to Richard Lee Forrest and Peggy Ruth Horner, Richard grew up in Santee alongside his older brother, Jeffrey, younger brother, Michael, and sister, Natalie. He attended Sycamore Canyon Elementary and Santana High School, graduating in 1979. With a steady sense of purpose and a strong work ethic, he continued his education at Cypress College, where he studied Mortuary Science and earned his degree in 1985.
Richard began his career in San Diego as an apprentice embalmer at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary, later transferring to Stricklin/Snively Mortuary in Long Beach, California, near Cypress College. His professional path reflected both diligence and devotion to serving others. He traveled throughout California with Golden State Casket Company and later worked for Hamilton Group in funeral and cemetery acquisitions. That work ultimately took him to Port Angeles, Washington, where he served as Regional Vice President over The Olympic Care Group, based out of Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel. In 1998, he was honored as Funeral Director of the Year by the Washington State Funeral Directors Association. Richard was a licensed embalmer and funeral director in California, Washington, and Idaho, and his work also took him to Arizona before he returned to the San Diego area in 2006 to be closer to family. Throughout his career, he was known not only for his integrity and knowledge, but for the calm, compassionate presence he brought to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Richard’s life was blessed by family in many ways. He was first married and became the proud father of his son, Steven P. Forrest. He later married Wendy, and for more than 32 years they shared a deep and enduring love, walking through life together through every joy and challenge. Wendy often said that one of the reasons she married Richard was because he made her laugh—and he never seemed to run out of jokes.
Richard loved the simple things that made life enjoyable. He loved to golf, and there was always something about the game that could keep him interested and talking. He followed college sports and was a devoted San Diego Padres fan, happily keeping up with the teams and games he loved. He loved music of every kind and was always discovering something new that he couldn't wait to share. If Richard found a song he thought you needed to hear, you were expected to listen—and preferably from the stereo chair, where he believed you could experience it properly. He enjoyed cooking, bicycling, and traveling, and he had a particular fondness for Hallmark Christmas movies because, as he would point out, they always ended happily—and usually with a kiss.
His greatest joy, however, was his family. He cherished his son, Steven, his granddaughter Maci (Adam) Boles, and his grandson Preston Forrest, each of whom brought him immeasurable love and happiness. Richard shared a particularly special bond with Maci. From the time she was a little girl, she called him “Grandpa-pa,” a name that became uniquely theirs. In return, Richard lovingly called her “Maci-pa,” a sweet nickname that reflected the special connection they shared. Their relationship was filled with love, laughter, and memories that Maci will carry with her always.
Richard loved his brothers and sister deeply, and his older brother Jeffrey was not only his brother but his best friend. Richard also loved his dogs dearly; one of the first times Wendy ever saw him cry was when they lost Winston, their first Schnauzer. As Richard’s health declined, being surrounded by family became especially important to him. He would often call unexpectedly just to leave a funny message—little pieces of Richard that his family will treasure forever. Many of those messages were saved, because somehow everyone knew they were too much a part of him to ever want to lose.
A man of deep faith, Richard loved God and sought to serve Him throughout his life. His faith was not simply something he talked about; it was woven into the way he cared for people. He volunteered in Youth Ministry, College Groups, and Home Groups and later obtained his ordination as a pastor. He had a gift for teaching, encouraging, and, when necessary, telling people the hard truth—usually whether they asked for it or not. He loved funeral service and took great satisfaction in sharing his knowledge and experience with others. During his career, he was involved with Rotary, Lions Club, and the Chamber of Commerce, and he served on the board of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association.
Those who knew Richard knew they were likely to encounter his latest joke, pun, or one-liner—something that might make you laugh, groan, or occasionally both. His humor was one of the things that made him so unmistakably Richard. He had a way of bringing laughter into ordinary moments and lightness into difficult ones.
Richard lived a life of faith, service, family, humor, and love. He touched countless lives through his work, his ministry, his friendships, and simply by being himself. He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, pastor, friend, mentor, and, to many, a source of wisdom and encouragement. Above all, he loved God and he loved his family. His presence will be deeply missed, but the laughter, love, lessons, and memories he left behind will remain with those who were blessed to know him.