Theodore (Ted) C. Fortner, 92, was born Oct 1924 and entered into eternal rest on July 22, 2017. His family have invited the PGR to honor him at his services.
Ted was a U.S. Army Corporal in WWII, 51st Armored Infantry Battalion 4th Armored Division where he served from Oct 1942 through July 1945. Ted was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
After training, Ted landed with the 2nd wave on Omaha Beach. No resistance on landing but the devastation and smell was obvious. 3 months later after some action, he was hit by a mortar in France where he almost died and was close to losing his left leg. He wouldn't let them amputate and spent 3 years in hospitals and multiple surgeries and grafting.
He met his future wife Elizabeth MaryAnne Smith, an Army nurse in the Pasadena VA Hospital during his recovery. Some health issues were due to his war injuries, but Ted was tenacious and didn't let these infirmities control him. He lived a full life and passed at age 92 from effects from spinal cancer. He had 100% disability so his old age health care was mostly from VA Hospital's.
Ted and Mary Anne bought a home in Compton after the war and within 2 years moved to their family home in Downey, CA. Ted was hired by his wife's father Roy Smith who owned a woodworking shop named Bellview Furniture in Bell Gardens where Ted was the foreman and supervisor for 35 years. He did a couple other woodworking related positions elsewhere until he retired to his "ranch" in Anza, CA.
Ted built a house around a very old trailer and loved to build roads and move dirt with his bulldozer, road grader and tractor. Ted also loved to travel and trailer traveled many years and visited almost every Capitol of every State. He continued to travel and drive until the last 2 years of his life. Ted moved to Quincy, Illinois 12 years after his wife passed after 53 years of marriage, in order to be near his oldest son. He spent almost 4 years at Curtis Creek Retirement Home in Quincy and the last 2 months of his life at Illinois Vets Home in Quincy, Illinois.
Ted's wife MaryAnne passed in 2001. He is survived by 2 sons James and Edward, 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grand children. 3 sisters Dorothy, Doris, Judy and 3 brothers Isaac, George and David.
This mission will include an accompany of about 13 miles from the Evans-Brown Mortuary in Sun City to Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) for military honors.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to the cemetery. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Friday, 08 Sept 17:1200 - Staging at Evans-Brown Mortuary, 27010 Encanto Dr Sun City, CA 92585
https://goo.gl/maps/P4anUyxUVVT2 (Please arrive quietly as service will be in progress)
1230 – Mission Briefing
1245 - Est Flag Line as Hero is brought from Mortuary to awaiting Coach
1300 - KSU to Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92518
https://goo.gl/maps/R2n5vANxNfm 1315 - ETA arrival at Riverside National, Staging Area #3 for Family and friends (Area 8 for PGR members)
1330 - KSU to assigned shelter for Flag Line, Service and Military Honors.
R/C Larry Medcraft
SoCal PGR Ride CaptainEmail: LMedcraf@yahoo.com
Cell: 808-722-5784
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
