Richard Forschner

Richard Arthur Forschner, Jr. quietly left the confines of this world and stepped into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 7, 2025, at the age of 68, after a multi-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Deborah, and his two sisters, Michele Forschner Mohrmann (Kelley) of Beaufort, and Pamela Forschner Thompson (the late Arch) of Sarasota, Florida.

Although they had no children of their own, Rick and Deb were blessed with numerous nieces and nephews, Pamela Amy Hart-Biles (Graham); Megan Fitzgerald; Kerry Anne Ward (Kelly); Robert Burzynski; and their Goddaughter Lisa Burzynski Strickland (Swain); Taylor Thompson Lyons (Matt); and his nephew, David Richard Thompson, who predeceased Rick in 2020 at the age of 38.

Rick also had a brother he never knew, Dicky, who died of leukemia before Rick was born.

Rick had a nephew, Jesse Stevens, the son of Deb’s sister Kathryn who predeceased her.

Rick was blessed with a niece who was like their daughter, Laura Williams Clifford, daughter of Deb’s sister Sandra.

Rick and Deb also rejoiced in numerous great-nephews and great-nieces.

Born in Washington DC in 1956, Rick felt ever-blessed. According to him, however, his best year ever was in 1982-1983, when he met and married the love of his life, Deborah in 1982, in Tampa, Florida. The following year, they moved to Beaufort, South Carolina.

A little more than a year after marrying, Deborah committed her life to faith in Jesus Christ and Rick did the same that October. For them, this was truly a turning point and when life began to be lived as intended.

Rick grew up the son of a foreign service officer who also was part-owner of the Richard A. Forschner Knife Company. Both Rick’s mother and father served in the U.S. Navy, where they met and married.

By age 10, Rick had lived in Germany, Belgium, France, Bologna and Naples, Italy, with Italian being his first language.

Rick went on to get his Associates Degree at the University of South Florida, Tampa, and his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a major in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

Rick’s radio career started in Salem, Massachusetts, where he was a disc jockey at WESX. He then moved to the Tampa Bay area in 1978 and worked at various radio stations including News Director at Gannett’s WUSA. He met and married Deborah and the two decided to move to Beaufort, South Carolina, where he managed the South Carolina Properties of ACTON Cable TV. They then moved to the Puget Sound area of Washington State where he managed the Puget Sound Properties of Vista Cablevision of Denver. They then moved to Orlando, Florida where he managed the Pay Per View Division of Time Warner Cable of Central Florida.

While working in Seattle, Rick began listening to Christian radio and immediately felt a calling to own or manage a Christian radio station. In 1992, Rick was offered an opportunity to return to Beaufort, South Carolina, a town he and Deb loved, where he returned to work for Charter Cable TV, which was later purchased by Hargray Communications. Rick was also asked to be the anchor of the local news on Beaufort’s WJWJ-TV between 1992 and 1997. He was also the host of the interview program, “Coastline”.

Rick was privileged to serve on the boards of the United Way, the Child Abuse Prevention Association, and, the Exchange Club. While in the Exchange Club, an organization that supports law enforcement, child abuse prevention and promotes Americanism, he met Charlie Smith. Charlie was a retired Marine Colonel, an Elder at Community Bible Church, and served as a General Manager at WAGP, 88.7 FM. Charlie invited Rick and Deb to a service at CBC, Rick had never told Charlie about the calling he felt to work in Christian radio. One day Charlie told Rick he had decided to retire from the radio station and asked Rick if he would consider leaving cable television to return to radio. Rick and Deb knew this was an answer to prayer. On June 1st, 1997, Rick became Director of Communications at Community Bible Church and General Manager of WAGP where he worked until his passing. Rick and Deb always saw the move to ministry as a calling and gift from God.

A funeral for Rick will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Beaufort’s Community Bible Church, 638 Parris Island Gateway; Dr. Carl Broggi will be officiating. The service will be followed by a reception in the Church Fellowship Hall. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements are being made through Anderson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to WAGP Radio or to Community Bible Church.