Mr. Philip E. Forest, 85, of Ellijay, GA died July 1, 2017 following complications from a stroke. He was born on December 4, 1931 to Charlotte E. (Copeland) Forest and Percy E. Forest in San Mateo, California. He graduated from Burlingame High School, Burlingame, CA, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He remained in service for 16 years enlisted, and the 13 years serving in the Medical Service Corps, and as an Intelligence Officer. He served at Ft. Benning, GA; Fort Riley KS, Fort Holabird, MD, and Japan. He became fluent in Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, California. Mr. Forest spent 17 years with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, DC, where he was an expert in single family housing, and retired as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sing Family Housing. During this time, he earned a degree from the University of Maryland. After retiring from HUD, he spent 19 years as a private consultant in housing finance. He was a member of the Board of Directors, National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), for many years, as well as a member of the Homebuilders Association of Georgia and the Georgia High Country Builders Association in Gilmer County. He was recognized last fall with a Lifetime Service Award by the Georgia High Country Builders Association for over 33 years of service to the building industry. He represented the Builders Association as a B-PAC Trustee on the Georgia Homebuilders Political Action Committee (PAC) and served on a number of state committees. From March 2008 to March 2013, he was a commissioner of the Gilmer County Planning Commission, and served as its chairman from March 2011 to March 2013. Mr. Forest was also active in the Republican Party of Gilmer County and the Georgia GAP, where among other things, he was a delegate to many District and State Conventions; a county campaign coordinator for Governor Sonny Perdue's re-election campaign and a poll watcher in several elections. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Sally Cauble Forest of Ellijay, GA; five children, Stephen Forest, John Forest (Marzetta); Lori Woodruff (Woody) and Joan Kriger, all of Fresno, CA, Susan Forest of DiPere, WI; sister Nancy Jean Lenhart Wilson of Strathmore, CA; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and three nieces, He is predeceased by parents Charlotte and Percy Forest, and daughter Catherine Forest (James) Hill. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 6th, 2017 from the Logan Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Richards and Dr. Thom Shores officiating, piano by Kelly Lane. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA. Family will receive friends Wednesday, July 5th, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Logan Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to a local charity of the donor's choosing, or any military veterans support organization in memory of Mr. Philip Forest. Logan Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.loganfuneralhome.com