John Forbes

Dr. John Melville Forbes, of Lexington, KY, age 81, passed away July 4, 2018. Born in Saginaw, MI on April 5, 1937, son of Andrew Watt Forbes and Henrietta McIntyre Forbes.

He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Alma College in 1959, a MA in Music Education from Central Michigan University in 1962, and a MA in Library Science from the University of Kentucky in 1978. In 1974 he completed a Ph.D. in Music History/Music Education at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Forbes taught music in Michigan Public Schools for ten years, served on the music faculty at Berea College, KY (1971-1977), then turned to Academic Librarianship. As Appalachian Librarian at Morehead State University (KY) from 1978 to 1980 he developed the Appalachian Collection. From 1980 he served as Director of Libraries at Baker University in Kansas. He retired in 1999 but continued as Curator of Baker’s Quayle Rare Bible Collection until 2008.

John played music for folk dance groups, volunteered in local libraries, and tutored students in reading.

John Forbes was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Andrew (1943) and Donald (1995), and a daughter, Rhomylly Bronwen Forbes (2011). He is survived by his sister Joyce (Sparky) Hallead, Avinger, TX, granddaughter Keely Garman of Ellettsville, IN, former wife Sylvia Miller Forbes, Baldwin City, KS, and partner Carol Gailey, Lexington, KY.