Dr. Larry Edison Forth, Sr., 71, passed away on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 in Vidalia, GA. Dr. Forth was born on November 25, 1951 in Dublin, GA to Preston Elton Forth and Velma Love Forth.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brothers Preston Elson Forth, Jr. and Robert Eugene Forth.
Dr. Forth is survived by his sisters, Betty Jean Bradshaw, Ann Cravey, Patsy Johnson, and Terry Lynn Groover and his sons Larry Edison Forth, Jr. and Nicholas Elliott Forth.
Dr. Forth attended Dublin High School where he was the caption of the Fighting Irish football team, learning a leadership skill he used his entire life. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Georgia, joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Candace Cullens.
While in Athens, he earned his BS degree in Chemistry and then attended the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Dr. Forth earned his OD license in 1977 and then he, Candace and Little Larry moved to Douglas, GA where he joined the practice of Dr. Walter Raleigh Wilson, Jr. Shortly after, the practice became Dr. Wilson and Forth. Upon Dr. Wilson’s retirement, Dr. Forth created Coffee Eye Clinic in Douglas, GA. Later he expanded his practice to include Appling Eye Clinic in Baxley, GA and Colony Optical in Fitzgerald, GA where he served patients from across South Georgia.
Dr. Forth was also a community leader in Douglas. Over the years he proudly served as President of the Lions Club and the Rotary Club. He was also a leader on the State level where he served as President of the Georgia Optometric Association helping lead the industry to become one of the more progressive Optometric states in the United States.
From his family, to his friends, to his employees and to his patients, Dr. Forth made everyone he came into contact with feel special and happy. In remembrance of him, the family is planning a Celebration of Life gathering at a later date. Family services will be held Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home.
The family respectfully requests memorials be made to the Southern College of Optometry in memory of Dr. Larry Forth online at www.sco.edu/give or by mail to: Southern College of Optometry, 1245 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104.
Townsend Brothers Funeral Home in Dublin is in charge of the arrangements.