Obituary for Marion "Richard" Ford
Marion Richard Ford, 83, of Fairview, PA, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at UPMC Hamot. He was born in St. Marys, PA on August 14, 1935, a son of the late Marion T. and Leona Fritz Ford.
Sonny graduated from Central Catholic High School in St. Marys in 1953 and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps where he earned the rank of Sergeant. He went on to graduate from Clarion University in 1961 with a Bachelor's degree in English Arts. He worked with Jackson & Perkins Roses in horticultural sales for 25 years before retiring to Florida in 2003. In 2015 he moved to Fairview, PA, where he once again made many new friends and continued his path of spreading love wherever he traveled. This was his last home before entering into his final home of everlasting life.
His most important accomplishment was his marriage of 60 years to his beloved Penny. His tag line was, “I am Rich because I have a Penny.” He devoted his life to her care including the last few years, while she has been inflicted with Alzheimer's disease. He was a man of many convictions but his family was the most important thing to him. He kept a toll of the number of offspring he and Penny produced— to date that number is 40— and carried that number like a badge of honor. Although he (and Mom/Penny) raised four children, he always told people he had eight children, the word in-law was never used. This inclusiveness carried out to all aspects of his life. For a man so set in his ways, he opened his arms and heart to all walks of life. He enjoyed playing American Legion baseball as a young boy in St. Marys. He was very proud of his humble beginnings in Elk County, PA and that tradition is carried on through a collaborative inception of the FriDeFo reunion that is still celebrated in St. Marys, PA in July of every year. Trout fishing, golfing, cruises and sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico were also just a few of his many loves. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Notre Dame Football. His competitive spirit carried out in many aspects of his life, anyone who played a game of cards with him can attest to that fact. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, the American Legion, and the Elks. Until recent years he was a color guard honoring our fallen soldiers.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Ford Bauer.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel M. "Penny" Cochrane Ford; four children, Annalynn Shuttleworth and her husband, Tim, of Fairview, Douglas Ford and his wife, Yolanda, of Adamstown, MD, Rick Ford and his wife, Beth, of Brownsburg, IN, and Mary Susan Clark and her husband, Robert, of Wabash, IN; 14 grandchildren, Danielle (Jonathan) Edwards, Lauren (Matthew) Murray, Nicola (Matthew) Hagen, Thomas (Samantha) Shuttleworth, James Shuttleworth, Stephanie Ford, Alexander Ford, Amanda "Mindi" Ford, Mauralynne Ford, R. Evan Ford, Katie (Jesse) Galgano, Shannon (Wesley) Sanders, Annalynn (Iliana) Regan, and ORiley Hamlin; 11 great grandchildren; one sister, Aurelia Ford Cochrane of Apex, NC; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may call at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 7100 W. Ridge Rd., Fairview, PA, on Monday, January 28, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass there on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10 a.m. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in St. Marys, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1600 Peninsula Dr.
Sonny graduated from Central Catholic High School in St. Marys in 1953 and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps where he earned the rank of Sergeant. He went on to graduate from Clarion University in 1961 with a Bachelor's degree in English Arts. He worked with Jackson & Perkins Roses in horticultural sales for 25 years before retiring to Florida in 2003. In 2015 he moved to Fairview, PA, where he once again made many new friends and continued his path of spreading love wherever he traveled. This was his last home before entering into his final home of everlasting life.
His most important accomplishment was his marriage of 60 years to his beloved Penny. His tag line was, “I am Rich because I have a Penny.” He devoted his life to her care including the last few years, while she has been inflicted with Alzheimer's disease. He was a man of many convictions but his family was the most important thing to him. He kept a toll of the number of offspring he and Penny produced— to date that number is 40— and carried that number like a badge of honor. Although he (and Mom/Penny) raised four children, he always told people he had eight children, the word in-law was never used. This inclusiveness carried out to all aspects of his life. For a man so set in his ways, he opened his arms and heart to all walks of life. He enjoyed playing American Legion baseball as a young boy in St. Marys. He was very proud of his humble beginnings in Elk County, PA and that tradition is carried on through a collaborative inception of the FriDeFo reunion that is still celebrated in St. Marys, PA in July of every year. Trout fishing, golfing, cruises and sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico were also just a few of his many loves. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Notre Dame Football. His competitive spirit carried out in many aspects of his life, anyone who played a game of cards with him can attest to that fact. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, the American Legion, and the Elks. Until recent years he was a color guard honoring our fallen soldiers.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Ford Bauer.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel M. "Penny" Cochrane Ford; four children, Annalynn Shuttleworth and her husband, Tim, of Fairview, Douglas Ford and his wife, Yolanda, of Adamstown, MD, Rick Ford and his wife, Beth, of Brownsburg, IN, and Mary Susan Clark and her husband, Robert, of Wabash, IN; 14 grandchildren, Danielle (Jonathan) Edwards, Lauren (Matthew) Murray, Nicola (Matthew) Hagen, Thomas (Samantha) Shuttleworth, James Shuttleworth, Stephanie Ford, Alexander Ford, Amanda "Mindi" Ford, Mauralynne Ford, R. Evan Ford, Katie (Jesse) Galgano, Shannon (Wesley) Sanders, Annalynn (Iliana) Regan, and ORiley Hamlin; 11 great grandchildren; one sister, Aurelia Ford Cochrane of Apex, NC; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may call at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 7100 W. Ridge Rd., Fairview, PA, on Monday, January 28, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass there on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10 a.m. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in St. Marys, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1600 Peninsula Dr.