Philip Ray Forbus of Mobile, Alabama passed away on February 5, 2026
after a long battle with dementia.  He was born in Ozark, Arkansas to
Herman Ray Forbus and Lowell (Bobbie) Morgan Forbus on February 23, 1947.

After graduating college in three years he joined the Peace Corp 1968
and served in Kenya, East Africa with farmers’ co-ops to improve the
economic output of their products.  Immediately following his time in
the Peace Corp, he was drafted into the military where he served for
four years in the United States Navy.  Following his honorable
discharge from the Navy he went on to earn his Ph.D.in Economics from
the University of Arkansas. In 1978 he was hired by the University of
South Alabama where he taught until his retirement in 2016.

During his time at South Alabama he worked on many projects with Dr.
Semoon Chang through the Center of Economic and Business Research and
conducted other research on his own including economic impact studies
over multiple years for the Mobile Tennis Center.  Also during this
time in 1982 he received a Fulbright travel grant and spent six
eye-opening weeks in Egypt.

Phil played several musical instruments, was interested in and
collected art particularly African, and loved to travel be it a day
trip or much longer.  He loved music most especially jazz.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Ginny.  He is
survived by his sisters Dixie Forbus Parker and Doris Forbus Conner as
well as nieces, nephews, and many cousins most especially Charles
Agee.

He leaves behind a wife of over thirty-two years, Sandra Jones Forbus,
who will cherish his memory, as well as his three stepchildren whom he
admired and adored as they did him; Hadley Bajramovic (Matt Hull);
Patrick Lloyd (Mercy); and Amy Lloyd (Betsy Pitt):  and grandchildren;
Malcolm, Sarah, Alex, Ellie; Hale; and Julia; and two great
grandchildren; Violet and Rain.

And he loved his friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Carter Center 453 John
Lewis Freedom Parkway; Atlanta, GA 30307-1406 or the Mobile Museum of
Art 4850 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

An event to celebrate his memory will be announced at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Philip Ray Forbus, please visit our floral store.