Charles A. Ford

Charles (Chuck) Andrew Ford, 77, former General Electric Manager and Vice President and General Manager of Genicom Corporation, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 from complications of heart failure. He was deeply loved as a husband, father, grandfather and friend.

The son of Isaac and Veronica Matukonis Ford, Mr. Ford was born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1929.

He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1952 with a BS degree in electrical engineering and worked for General Electric for 33 years in a variety of manufacturing, engineering, and managerial positions. In his early years with G.E., he worked at facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania, Johnson City, New York, Utica, New York, before coming to Waynesboro in 1956. When G.E. sold its Waynesboro operations, Mr. Ford remained with the business and became a founding officer of Genicom Corporation, where he played a major role in its transformation from a G.E. department to an independent corporation. Until his retirement in 1990, he was a Vice President of Genicom and General Manager of the Relay Division located in Waynesboro. He was always proud of the reliable, high quality relays manufactured in Waynesboro that found widespread use in the aerospace and defense industries, including the Voyager Spacecraft, the Trident Submarine, and the Space Shuttle. More importantly, he always praised the integrity and responsibility of the employees who he believed were the foundation of the business.

Living in Waynesboro, Virginia, for nearly 50 years, he served as Chairman of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the American Society of Quality Control, President of the Waynesboro-East Augusta County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors of the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, and a member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board. He was a longtime member of both the Main Street United Methodist Church and the Waynesboro Country Club. He enjoyed golf, travel and spending time with his grandchildren and family.

Mr. Ford is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jeanne Clewell Ford; son, Dr. Corey C. Ford and his wife, Dr. Sally L. Harris; daughter, Karen F. Hawbaker and her husband, Dennis; grandchildren, Kirsten Leigh Hawbaker, Erin Lynne Hawbaker, Charles (Chad) Russell Ford, and Tia Thuy Hong Ford; sister, Joan D. Ford; brother, William Ford and his wife, Mary; five nieces and nephews; and brother-inlaw, Douglas B. Clewell and his wife, Grace.

He was pre-deceased by five sisters and two brothers.

He is missed by all.

The family suggests donations to The Salvation Army, 246 Arch Ave., Waynesboro VA 22980, or the American Heart Association, 3025 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, in lieu of flowers or other remembrances.

The Rev. Creed Davis will conduct a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 16, 2006, at Main Street United Methodist Church. Burial at Ridgeview Cemetery will be private.

The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service.

McDow Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.