Joseph E Ford

Joseph E. Ford, a resident of Cleveland, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, following a lengthy illness. He was born July 17, 1920, in Starkville, Mississippi, to Grover and Meldie Fulgham Ford. He was the oldest of three children. For many years, Joe was a faithful member of Candies Creek Baptist Church. Joe was one of the first men hired at Bowater when it opened, working as an electrical foreman until his retirement in 1982. He was a master woodcrafter and riflesmith and loved to tinker in his workshop. He also enjoyed collecting and restoring antique gasoline engines. He proudly served his country in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. His plane was shot down in Germany on June 20, 1944, two weeks after D-Day. He was a prisoner of war for 11 months and marched in the German death march with the Stalag Luft IV. He was released on May 2, 1945, after a very harsh winter. Joe was awarded the Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Air Force Medal, European Africa Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He loved the outdoors and one would often find him on the greenway riding his scooter, proudly displaying his POW license plate. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Nell Ford in 1976, and a sister, Doris Harpole. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Orena Mital Ford; son, Jerry Ford and wife Carolyn of Inman, SC; daughters: Jean Cannon and husband Joe of Cleveland, Judy Frazier and husband Lionel of Wheelersburg, OH, Ginger Dahlin and husband Smoke of Cleveland; step-daughters: Linda McConnell and husband Glenn of Charlotte, NC, Sherry North and husband Gene of Morristown, Debby Mainor and husband Tommy of Dayton, and Kim Ledford and husband Danny of Cleveland; seven grandchildren, ten step-grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and fifteen step-great grandchildren; sister, Joy McMinn of Cleveland; special care-givers: Sharon Holder and Rita Copeland along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2009, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Jamie Work officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with grandsons Ernie Cannon, Wade Cannon, David North, Jonathan North, Joseph North, Ben Mainor, Dustin Ledford, Steve McConnell Kent Catron serving as pallbearers and concluding with a white dove release ceremony.