Obituary of William H. "Bill" Ford

William H. “Bill” Ford, Sr., 92, of Englewood, FL and formerly of Fairmont, passed away Wednesday, March 16th at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was born October 2, 1923 on Diamond Street in Fairmont, a son of the late Joseph F. Ford, Sr. and Lillie Ford. He is also preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Anna Lee Mouser Ford. Bill was a lifelong member of Gateway United Methodist Church and an Associate Member of Englewood United Methodist Church in Englewood, FL. He was a 1941 graduate of East Fairmont High School, graduated from Fairmont State College with a degree in Education, completed a Master’s Degree in Education/Counseling and Guidance from West Virginia University, and in 1949 graduated from the Cleveland College for Mortuary Science. During his time at Fairmont State, he was President of the Sigma Tau Gamma National Fraternity. During World War II, he served in artillery in the United States Army as a member of an artillery battalion in the European theatre of operations attached to General George Patton’s Third Army. He received citations for campaigns in Normandy (landing on Utah Beach), S. France, N. France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. In 1952, Bill and his brother, Joseph, established Ford Funeral Home on Columbia Street. They later purchased R.C. Jones Funeral Home in 1966, DeGarmo Funeral Home in 1982, and Allen Funeral Home in 1999. He worked at various levels in funeral service within the WVFDA and NFDA, including 22 years as Executive Director of the American Board of Funeral Service Education (the accrediting agency for colleges of funeral service) and past president of the WVFDA. He later served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. After his retirement, he moved to Englewood, FL, where he made his home until the death of Anna Lee in 2009. He was a 50+ year member of the of the Fairmont Lodge #9 AF&AM, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in Clarksburg Valley, Osiris Shrine Temple in Wheeling, and the Upper Mon Valley Shrine Club in Fairmont. He was Past Exulted Ruler of the BPOE #294 in Fairmont, and was a member of American Legion Post #17, VFW Post #629 and a proud participant in the 1st Honor Flight from Bridgeport to Washington, D.C. He was a former longtime member of the Rock Lake Club. He formerly served on various committees at his church and was also appointed by Dr. Wendell Hardway to the Board of Governors at Fairmont State College. He was proud of establishing the Joe and Bill Ford Endowed Athletic Scholarship at FSU. He also held membership in the Rotary Club of Fairmont and frequently attended the Sunrise Rotary Club in Englewood, where he was affectionately known as “Wild Bill Ford.” He was also a member of Palm Island Marina in Englewood. Late in his life, he enjoyed watching his beloved WVU sports teams, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers. His sons appreciate the kindness of his friends, wait staff, and owners of the many local restaurants. He is survived by his three sons, William H. Ford II and his wife Patricia of Fairmont, Raymond Jay Ford and his wife Drema of Fairmont, and Bradley Aude Ford and his wife Carol of Bridgeport; sister, Helen Nuzum; grandchildren, William Ryan Ford and his wife Jessica, Alan Glenn Ford, Jay Spencer Ford and his wife Jessica, Sarah Elizabeth Phillips and her husband Marcus, Jessica Marie Ford, Bridget Elise Ford, Cameron Aude Ford, and Conner Everett Ford; great grandchildren, Anna Catherine Ford and William Andrew Ford. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he is also preceded in death by brothers, Joseph Ford and Wilma, Raymond Ford and Nancy; and brother in law, David Nuzum; and a sister in infancy, Catherine Ford. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Ruby Memorial Hospital and Fairmont Regional Medical Center for their care and support. Friends and family will be received at Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV 26554 on Saturday, March 19th from 6-8 PM and again on Sunday, March 20th from 2-8 PM. The Fairmont BPOE #294 will conduct services on Saturday evening to conclude visitation. Funeral services will be held at Gateway United Methodist Church, 301 Diamond St., Fairmont, WV 26554 on Monday, March 21st at 11 AM with Rev. Dr. Ken Ramsey and Rev. Tim Edin officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery & Mausoleum in Fairmont. The Fairmont Lodge #9 AF&AM will conduct ritualistic masonic services at graveside.