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Bob and Buffy Wells
Ken was one of the first people to welcome us when we moved to Egan’s Landing.We never met any of his family but our thoughts and prayers are with them. I think he enjoyed life and was more vital because of Norma. We will miss talking to him on his walks.
Ron & Susan Singleton
Ken has been a mainstay of our neighborhood for all the time we've lived here. We always enjoyed his Marine Happy Birthday parties and visiting with him as he took his daily walks. We will miss him. Prayers for all the family and Norma.
John Herron
God Bless you. We will all miss you at The Surf. I always enjoyed chatting with Norma and Ken. Will not be the same. Prayers for your soul...and prayers for Norma.
MGySgt. Kenneth Ford, USMC, Ret.
2022-02-18
Ret. MGySgt Kenneth L. Ford, U.S.M.C passed this life on February 18 2022 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, Fernandina Beach, FL. Ken was born February 17, 1930 in Negreet, LA to Myrtle Anderson Ford and Leon Ford. After his parents’ divorce, he and his mother lived with his maternal grandparents Travis and Ona Anderson. He is predeceased by his parents and stepfather Coleman Sibley.
After graduating from Many High School, Sabine Parrish in 1948, Dad left home and joined the U.S.M.C. It was the perfect fit for him, saying often that he had been “born” at Parris Island. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA in November 1951, he met our mother Ida Belle Londagin on a blind date to a Los Angeles Rams / Chicago Bears football game. She once said she was so taken with him that she pretended not to understand football just to listen to him explain it. They wed in January of 1952 and were faithfully married until her death in August 2007.
Dad’s Marine Corps career spanned 26 and a half years from 1948 to 1974 and he attained the rank of E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant. These years took him and our family around the world. He served proudly and with distinction at Camp Pendleton, Barstow and Oakland, CA, South Korea, Nicosia, Cyprus, Philadelphia, PA, Iwakuni, Japan, Camp Lejeune, NC, Vietnam, Yokohama, Japan and MCLB Albany, GA. His favorite duty station was as the Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge (NCOIC) of the Marine Security Detail attached to the American Embassy in Nicosia Cyprus. As the NCOIC, he was the only Marine with a family on station. Mom became the baker for all the young Marines providing American style breads, doughnuts, pastries and one enormous Marine Corps birthday cake. While stationed in Cyprus, Dad was honored to greet V.P. Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson—who adored his young freckle-faced sons—while on a peace-keeping tour of the Middle East.
After retiring from the U.S.M.C., he began his second career at Keenan Auto Parts, Service Parts Warehouse where he capitalized on his expert organizational skills until his second retirement.
Our parents relocated one last time in 1996 to Fernandina Beach, FL to enjoy the fruits of their labors. They lived and loved well for 55 years, creating an expansive family left to mourn Dad’s passing. They include Son David E. Ford and his wife Dr. Cheryl Wood Ford. Son Edward B. Ford and his wife Donna Gage Ford. Daughter Sara Ford Nipper and her husband Doug Nipper.
Grandchildren Megan Ford Boyd and her husband Jason, Zachary Ford and his wife Meredee Refshaw Ford, Sara Ford and her husband Matt Ford, Travis Ford, Adam Ford, Jesse Ford and his wife Suwidara Rungjamrat Ford, Aubrey Ford Ivie and her husband Eric, Cassie Ford Smith and her husband Jeremy, Davis Nipper and Reid Nipper.
Great grandchildren Luka and Desmond Boyd, Madison, Amelia, Olivia and Ruby Ford, Avery and Blas Ford, Silas and Jayden Ford, Grace and Ellie Ivie and Canon and Owen Smith.
Per Dad’s wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered in the Atlantic Ocean, as Mom’s were, at a private family memorial.
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