Forrest Wade "Babe" Wollard, 97, formerly of Richmond, Missouri, died on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at Wexford Place Assisted Care in Parkville, Missouri.

Forrest was born January 25, 1921, to Alice Pugh Wollard and Reed C. Wollard in rural Hardin, Missouri.  He attended Richmond, Missouri, schools until he entered Central High School at Rockingham, Missouri.  Forrest was on the basketball team at Central and graduated in 1939.  He met and married Dorothea Marie Cramer (1926-2015) on February 13, 1942, during World War II.  Forrest spent 39 months in the 2 ^nd Army Air Corps.  After the service, he became a supervisor of grocery stores for Consumers Cooperative Association, now Farmland Industries.  He worked for CCA and later for United Cooperatives in Liberty, Missouri.  He retired in 1977.

Forrest was an active member of the Richmond United Methodist Church and served on the boards for the Northland Credit Union, Famers Home Insurance, New Hope Cemetery, HUD Housing and the United Methodist Church in Richmond.

Forrest was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Dorothea Marie Wollard; his parents; his five brothers: Sam, Fowler, Vaughn, Ward Reed and Eugene A. Wollard, all of Richmond, Missouri.

He is survived by his three children, Dr. Ron R. Wollard of Mission Hills, Kansas; Emily J. Vandeginste of Kansas City, Missouri; and Dorothea Kay Mertensmeyer of Richmond; 9 grandchildren: Chad and Chris Wollard of Kansas City, Zachary Wollard of Brooklyn, NY; David Vandeginste of Parkville, Missouri; Anna Marie Christie of Kansas City, Stacy Joe Krewson of Kansas City, Wade Mertensmeyer of Norborne, Ryan Mertensmeyer of Indiana and Jeff Mertensmeyer of Columbia; as well as 20 great grandchildren.

Forrest was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was cherished for his charm, wit, great sense of humor and magic tricks.  An avid walker, he calculated nearly circumventing the planet with his 3 mile a day regimen after heart bypass surgery at the age of 60.  His final years were spent at Wexford Place Assisted Care in Parkville, Missouri, where he made many new friends and enjoyed all the music and activities.  He will be dearly missed by all.

The family suggests memorial contributions in lieu of flowers be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Richmond United Methodist Church or New Hope Cemetery.  Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main - P. O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 5, 2018 at the Richmond United Methodist Church, 212 W. Main Street, Richmond, Missouri, 64085.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 5, 2018 prior to services at the Church.  Interment will be in New Hope Cemetery, north of Hardin, Missouri, with full military honors provided by the Ray County Veterans.  Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond is in charge of these arrangements.  Please share your memories with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com .