Forest Edward Jennings passed away on Friday, April 25th in his home after his battle with cancer. His strong Christian faith was evident with his optimism and fearlessness right up to the end.
Ed was born January 3, 1935 near Asheville, North Carolina to Annie Jennings (Johnson) and William Robert Jennings. Regrettably, Ed never knew his father and was raised by his mother and her second husband, George Taylor, who treated him like his own. Ed had 7 siblings from his mother and he outlived them all.
Growing up in poverty was a lifelong motivator for Ed and at a young age he knew he’d have more opportunities away from home. He joined the military before he was 18 years old and served overseas in the Korean War, for a few extra dollars a month he became a paratrooper. He didn’t share any war stories other than to say, “I swore when I left Korea that I’d never sleep in another tent”, and he kept his word.
When he came back from the war, he spent some time in North Carolina, but the big city and opportunities of New York were calling for him. He initially found work as a Steel Worker, but eventually found his passion and profession in the demolition industry. He took on many jobs across the country, he loved his work, he loved the travel, and he loved meeting new people.
On one such job, he ended up in Northern Minnesota and met his eventual wife, Karen, who has been by his side since 1976. By this time, Ed had a son and a daughter. His son, Jeff, had been traveling with Ed and his daughter, Rhonda, was living near Nashville with her mother. Shortly after Karen, “who had three sons of her own”, and Ed were married in March of 1978, they too moved to the Nashville area. It wasn’t as “Brady Bunch” as it sounds, but it is safe to say they found an area that they made “home base” since.
Ed was always an avid golfer and in retirement he and Karen found a place to winter in Florida on a golf course. They were great hosts and enjoyed company and visitors there every winter, it seems like they always had something going on. Their summers in Minnesota were busy visiting family and friends and were filled with dancing and attending their grandchildren’s activities. Falls in Nashville were filled with the same, grandchildren ball games, hosting friends and family, and taking in all that Nashville has to offer. Their retirement years have been an inspiration to everyone in the family, they have lived life to the fullest.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents and all his many siblings.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years (Karen), his sons James and Jeff, his daughter Rhonda, and his three stepsons, Santo, Mark, and Scott, many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and even several great grandchildren.
No services are scheduled at this time. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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