Obituaries

William Marion Ford

William Marion Ford, 88, of Pine Bluff died March 19, 2018. Born in Gadsden, Alabama, May 12, 1929 to the late Lonnie Luther and Lois Street Ford, he grew up in Gadsden and was a 1947 Gadsden High School graduate. He later graduated from the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a mechanical aeronautics degree . There he met his wife, the late Marian Ridley Ford, who he married June 6, 1950. Mrs. Ford died January 19, 2013. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict in Alexandria , Louisiana as an aircraft mechanic with the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron. Moving to Pine Bluff in 1953, he flew as a cropduster, then became chief pilot for Central Transformer in 1963. In 1975 he moved to Crossett, Arkansas and became chief pilot for Georgia Pacific there until his retirement. A member of the Bayou Ramblers Bicycle Club in Bastrop, Louisiana, he rode in cross country bicycle trips across Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma for many years. Those rides included the Free Wheel across Oklahoma in 2005. He was proudest of the Hotter than Hell 100 in Wichita Falls, Texas in August of 2002 at age 73 where he completed all 100 miles. He also loved riding with his children and grandchildren. He attended Summit Baptist Church. Survivors include his son, William Marion Ford II (Tonya) of Tulsa; daughters, Susan Ford Ferguson (David) of Ash Flat, Arkansas, Carol Ford Jones (Met) of Pine Bluff; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A brother Alvis Shelton Ford also died before him. Services are Thursday, March 22, 10 a.m., Chapel of Ralph Robinson and Son with Reverend Todd Anderson officiating. Interment follows in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday. March 21, 5-7 p.m. at Robinson's. Memorials requested to Trinity Village, 6400 Trinity Drive, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603, or a charity of the donor's choice. Online register: www:ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published March 21, 2018

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