Robert Elmer Ford

Robert Elmer Ford March 7, 1922 - June 12, 2009 Resident of Magalia, CA Captain Ford was born the fourth of five children to his loving parents, Elsie and Elmer in Oakland, California. He graduated from Fremont High School, Oakland, California in 1940. He worked at odd jobs until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served with the Third Marine Division in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1943 and saw action in three campaigns including Bougainville Island, the Liberation of Guam and Iwo Jima. After the War in 1947, he joined the Oakland Police Department. During his illustrious thirty two years career, he saw many changes come to Oakland and he occupied many positions in the OPD, rising to and retiring as a Captain in 1979. He was know for his attention to detail and his total recall in telling stories about past events and people. In retirement, he worked at Automotive Engineering as a delivery driver, working with many other OPD retirees and staying active in the OPOA, the 100 Club and the OPD Widows and Orphans organizations. He and some OPD retirees continued to meet at local eateries and reminisce about the old days. They were documented in the film "The Thursday Club". Always busy, he maintained an immaculate house and mountain cabin, looking for projects for fun or to make things easier for someone. An avid reader, he was able to read several books at a time, left a vast and varied library, and was well versed in US History with a particular interest in the Civil War. He had completed several chapters of a book about his life in the United States Marine Corp. He was a long time resident of Alameda, California. He was married for fifty six years and preceded in death by his childhood love and cherished wife Connie and by his sibling brother and three sisters. He is survived by his loving wife of the last eight years, Ronnie, a resident of Magalia, his daughter Melinda Iverson of Vallejo and son Rob Ford of Alameda, son in law Dale Iverson, daughter-in-law Susie Ford, his two Grandchildren Warn Iverson and Chelsea Ford, and four Great Grandchildren. There are no memorial services scheduled at this time and the family asks that any donations be made to your favorite charity in his honor. Captain Ford was eighty seven years old.