Paul Leonard Forsythe

Rev. Paul Leonard Forsythe, 74, a well-known St. Petersburg resident and retired pastor, went to be with the Lord early Monday morning, June 5, 2017 at Clarview Nursing Home in Sligo.

Paul was born in Sigel on March 17, 1943.  He was the son of the late Claude and Mildred Cox Forsythe.

He attended Union High School and later earned his GED.  He was retired after 32 years of service as a heavy equipment operator with C&K Coal.

Leonard was a devoted Christian and taught Sunday School at the Leesburg Church of God of Prophecy and later was pastor the Church of God of Prophecy in Rimersburg.  He enjoyed attending many of the Church of God of Prophecy church services and Sunday School.  He liked yardwork, music, an spending time with his family.

Paul was a long time member of the St. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Dept. and had served the department as fire chief for a number of years.  He was also a councilman for St. Petersburg Borough for many years.  In his last years, he enjoyed witnessing to his fellow residents at Clarview and enjoyed attending the various musical festivities there.

He is survived by his wife, Jennie Smith Forsythe, whom he married in Fairview on November 11, 1962.  Also surviving are four children, DeeLynn Foust of St. Petersburg, Marty Forsythe and his wife, Holly, of St. Petersburg, Brian Forsythe of Butler, and Kirby Forsythe of St. Petersburg; four grandchildren, Andrew, Chasity, Alex, and Wesley; two great grandsons, Zaden and Gavin; two brothers, Lonnie Forsythe of Eau Claire and Bruce Forsythe of Sligo; three sisters, Faye Best of New Bethlehem, Judy Myers of Tionesta, and Karen Schrecengost of Erie, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

In addition to his parents, Paul is preceded in death by a grandson, Spencer Foust, four brothers, Kenneth, Robert, Larry, and Roland, and two sisters, Sharon Forsythe and Dorothy Ferrari.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 802 Grove St., St. Petersburg, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday.  A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday from the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Carl Best, a lay pastor and Paul’s longtime friend, officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Petersburg Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Dept., PO Box 81, St. Petersburg, PA 16054.  For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.

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