He was the son of the late Lester Shipley Ford Jr. and Mildred Forbis Ford.
He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Mildred Ford Wilson and her husband, Richard; Dolores Ford Newsome; and his nephew, Brian Maus.
A devoted family man, he is survived by his sister, Henrietta “Susie” Ford Maus and her husband, Jim; his wife of 51 years, Ann Bradley Ford; a daughter, Maria Ford Myers; a son, Henry Bradley Ford and his wife, Andrea; five grandchildren, Zoe Myers; Sydney McCraw and Holden, Payton and Cullen Ford; nieces and nephews, Karen, Debbie, Rhonda, Scott, Ronnie and Les.
He graduated from Frederick Military Academy and attended Chowan University and Campbell College.
He was office manager for Superior Stone Company in Ryan, S.C., and was an alcohol law enforcement officer with the North Carolina Department of Crime Control until his retirement.
He served as a Seaboard town commissioner, was an active Boy Scout leader and Mason and was also active in his church.
After retirement, he managed Superior Gin Company and worked as a firearms instructor at Odom Prison.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at East 10th Street Church of Christ with Dave Chapman, Minister officiating. Burial will follow in Seaboard Cemetery with Masonic Graveside Rites. The family will receive friends from 7:00 – 8:30 P.M. Monday, June 19, 2017 at Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service and other times at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com.