CHARLES R. FORD

CHARLES R. FORD 90, passed away in his Riverside home on Thursday, October 14. He was born to Anna and John Ford in 1919, the youngest and last surviving of 4 children. He was raised in Des Moines Iowa. In the fall of 1941 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. After finishing flight school, he served with distinction as a flight instructor. After the war he returned to Des Moines and in 1949 married Elaine Brand, who he would cherish for the rest of his days. In 1951 he left Iowa winters and an ill-fitting sales job to enroll in Stanford University where he earned his BA degree in Economics, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and received his MBA in 1954. Charles accepted a job with Citizens Bank in Riverside and moved the family here. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Citizens became Security Pacific and Charles stayed with them as a regional officer until he retired in 1981. Education for all was very important to him, and he gladly endorsed, contributed to and accepted positions where he could be of service. He ran for the original RCC board of trustees, taught small business administration classes at UCR extension department, was president of the Board of Councilors at Cal State San Bernardino, served on RCC Community Foundation and strongly supported RCC Nursing School. He cared deeply for Riverside, its leaders, its people and its organizations and was pleased to share his energy, intelligence, humor and leadership with many organizations, serving on board or advisory committees for Riverside Community Foundation, Red Cross, Urban League, Treasurer of his beloved Rotary Club, treasurer for Meals on Wheels for 15 years and deliverer for at least 25 years, on the advisory board for Security Pacific bank, on Plymouth Tower Advisory Board, President of United Way, League of Women Voters Mens\' Advisory Comittee and authored an Economic forecast for Riverside for the Junior League. Though Charles was an avid bicyclist, having biked in 11 countries, his most consuming interest was with his children and sharing in their activities and interests. He reluctantly leaves his beloved wife Elaine, daughter Christy and her husband Bob Figari, son Dr. John Ford and his wife Dr. Laura Sugino, son Bruce and his wife Julie and grand children Elyssa, Brennan, Tai and Niko. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 on the morning of Saturday, October 23 at the First Congregational Church of Riverside. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a contribution to Riverside Meals on Wheels.