Randall Herman Forrest

Lieutenant Randall Herman Forrest, USN, retired, age 69, of Milton, FL, and formerly of Waverly, TN, passed away Thursday, August 26, 2021, in Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton, FL from complications due to COVID. Mr. Forrest was born July 30, 1952, in Waverly, TN, to Herman Lashlee and Irma Jean Wall Forrest. He was married to Gridska Gisela “GiGi” (Orlando) Forrest. He was a member of Halls Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Waverly. At the time of his passing, Randy Forrest was an IT Tech Support Manager for Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Milton, FL. He enlisted in the United States Navy on August 2, 1975 and served as an Aviation Electronics Technician before earning a commission through AOCS “Aviation Officer Candidate School” on August 17, 1984. He earned his “Wings of Gold” as a Navy pilot and served as a Naval Aviation Instructor out of Corpus Christie, TX with the call sign “TRON”. He was honorably discharged on September 30, 1994 and retired as a Lieutenant, with over 19 years active duty time which included service during Operation Desert Storm. While working for the Department of Defense, he pursued and completed his personal goal of higher education and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL on November 30, 1999. Aside from his personal career, Randy loved his seven kids, his family, the lake, water sports, water skiing, flying, motorcycles, he always seemed to be trusted by animals more readily than others, and he was an avid electronics guru that enjoyed repairing computer components. Visitation for the family only will be Thursday, September 9, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Luff-Bowen Funeral Home in Waverly. Friends and public visitation will occur at the burial from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., before the Graveside Service, at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Waverly, TN. Pastor Tom Jehnzen will be officiating the service starting at 11:00 a.m. with interment and military honors to follow. Survivors include: Wife: Gridska “GiGi” Forrest, Milton, FL 7 Children: Sean Ingram (Lee Ann), Waverly, TN, Gridska Flynn (Grant), Scituate, MA, Brandon Forrest (Brandy), St. Louis, MO, Camille McLean (Mike), Arnold, MD, Vanessa Forrest (Adam Miller), Mons, Belgium, Heidi Forrest, Arlington, VA, and Jonathan Forrest (Jessica), Sanford, FL Mother: Irma Jean Forrest, Waverly, TN 3 Sisters: Sarah Hendry (Charles “Soapy”), Erin, TN, Monica Smith, Waverly, TN, and Sherry Buchanan (Tim), Waverly, TN 15 Grandchildren: Marissa Ingram – Ryan, Gridska & Evelyn Flynn – Morgan, Olivia, & Vivian Rega, Orlando Forrest – Trystin Martin, Grace, Constance & Patience McLean – Brody & Giselle Miller – Lily Galloway LUFF-BOWEN FUNERAL HOME, 2400 Hwy. 13 N., Waverly, TN 37185 931-296-2437