William H. Forbes Jr., 68, of Melrose, Army vet

William H. Forbes Jr. of Melrose, a war veteran, died Sept. 24 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He was 68.

Mr. Forbes was raised in Everett.

He was a 1965 graduate of Everett High School.

Mr. Forbes served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

He worked as a heavy equipment oiler, operator and elevator man for 45 years.

Mr. Forbes a member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 and was involved in local youth sports as a coach, referee, umpire and mentor.

He served five terms as the Ward 7 Alderman and a year as board president.

He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s of the Annunciation Church, Melrose Veterans Advisory Board, Melrose Veterans Memory Project and was president emeritus of the Disabled & Limbless Veterans Organization.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary (DiMino); two sons, William H. III of Saugus and Scott M. of Melrose; a brother, Mark of Massachusetts; three sisters, Patricia Fresco of Stoneham, Felicia Kalloch of North Carolina and Cindy Foulkes of Florida; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday at St. Mary’s Church, Melrose.

Interment was in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.

Arrangements by Gately Funeral Home, Melrose.