Bill Ford

Services are at 10:30 a.m. today for Bill Ford of Quinlan in the Quinlan Funeral Home chapel. His interment is at 2:30 p.m. in the Restland Cemetery in Dallas. Bill lost his courageous and valiant battle with cancer on March 29, 2008, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born June 27, 1931, in Corsicana. His family moved to New London when he was very young. He began and ended his public education in the London School System, graduating in 1949. Bill was an outstanding athlete, participating in football and track. He held the “points after touchdown” record for many years after his graduation. Upon his high school graduation, Bill attended Texas A and M University. Bill served in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict and received the Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupation Medal (Japan), Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal (Korea) and the National Defense Medal. Bill worked in the aerospace industry as an electronics design engineer working with surveillance systems on various aircraft. He retired in 1993 from E-Systems in Garland. Bill loved his family and friends, but his greatest love was the Lord. He lived his entire life as a Christian, never wavering in his faith through many difficult times in his life. He was an active member of the Lake Tawakoni Church of Christ where he served as an elder until he was forced to step down for health reasons. He loved singing and had served as song leader in congregations he attended most of his life. Bill was predeceased by his wife, Dessie Bassett Ford; a son, David Thomas Ford; wife Jeanette Vehon Ford; and his parents, Leon and Mattie Ford. Left to cherish many wonderful memories are his wife, Elva Parrish Ford of Quinlan; two sisters, Juanita Ford Smith of Henderson and Peggy Ford Hunt and husband Roy of Henderson; a daughter, Sharon Ford Hammond of Frederick, Md.; stepchildren Alan Parrish of Fate, Tony Parrish and wife Stacie of Quinlan, Eddie Parrish and wife Mary of Hurst, Missy Parrish of Quinlan, John Vehon of Richardson, Rick Vehon and wife Susan of Arlington, David Vehon and wife Terri of Duncanville, and Billy Vehon of Abilene; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and friends. Pallbearers are Alan Parrish, Tony Parrish, Eddie Parrish, Tracy Hunt, Jeff Hale, and Hal Ford.