Thomas Ford

Tom Ford passed away Sunday April 3 at Sunrise Skilled Nursing Facility in Traer, IA of age related illness. Tom Ford was born on December 27,1925 to Newell and Eleanor Ford of Western Springs, Illinois. He attended Lyons Township High School and St. Johns Military Academy. Following Army Air Forces service in WWII as a gunnery sergeant and graduation from college, Tom, worked a number of sales management jobs that took him throughout the Midwest and Eastern states. In Marshalltown, IA, Cooper Manufacturing employed Tom in their lawn mower division. He was deeply committed to the Big Brother/Big Sister program and helped raise money for the Salvation Army Building. Tom played a competitive tennis well into his 70s and loved trips to torch Lake, Michigan. Tom was married to Phyllis for 50 years. His later years were spent in Augusta, Georgia where Tom cared for Phyllis. Following her death, Tom volunteered at Kids Kamp and for the Georgia Sheriffs Association. Tom and Phyllis have three children Christy Olson (Tim), Dave Ford (Muffy) and Susan Williams (Gus), 5 grand children and 8 great-grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, younger brother and sister, granddaughter and 2 great-granddaughters. A memorial service will be held at Grimes Farm Park Shelter in Marshalltown, Iowa on Sunday June 5 at 10:00 a.m. Please send memorials in care of Grimes Farm and Conservation Center, 2349 233rd St., Marshalltown, IA 50158.