Paul Ford

Paul I. Ford, 78, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Saturday, February 21, 2015, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic. Visitation will begin after 12 noon on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. that evening. A Requiem Holy Eucharist will be at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at St. Michael's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Wayne Kamm officiating. Burial will be in Blakeway Cemetery in rural Danville, IA. Memorials have been established to St. Michael's Episcopal Church and the American Heart Association. On-line condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com. Born on January 3, 1937, in rural Henry County, Paul Iliff was the son of LeRoy Bert and Dorothy Long Ford. He was a 1954 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. On February 27, 1955, Paul married Rosezella Mae Thornburg at Little Bit of Heaven in Davenport, IA. She survives. During high school, Paul joined the Iowa National Guard. He served for six years, and at the time of his discharge he held the rank of staff sergeant. He also worked at the Phillips 66 station as a repairman at that time. Paul then worked at Hartricks' TV and Appliance as a technician and repairman. In 1961, he became a salesman for Colonial Baking Company and held that position for thirty-two years before retiring in 1993. A man who had the talent and ability to fix a variety of things, Paul rebuilt and restored cars. He was especially proud of a 1929 Ford Roadster that he turned into a hotrod. His most recent accomplishment included repairing violins. Paul played guitar and sang in several country western bands in the area. He and his wife, Rosie, enjoyed riding his Gold Wing all over the United States and RVing during the winter months in Florida and Texas. Paul was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry. Along with his wife, Rosie, Paul is survived by a son, Bradley (Jodie) Ford of Oklahoma City, OK; a daughter, Rhonda (Don) Ford-Gares of Farmington, IA; a sister, Doris Biggs of Mt. Pleasant, IA; two grandchildren, Jared (Rachael) Ford of Edmond, OK, and Alissa Ford of Oklahoma City, Ok; and three great-grandchildren, Cai Kitchell and Audrey and Ethan Ford. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Delores Ford of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and two brothers-in-law, Norbert Meyer of Waterloo, IA, and Don Garmoe of Mt. Pleasant, IA. Paul was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Carl Ford (who died in infancy), Wayne Ford, LeRoy Ford, and Everett Ford; and four sisters, Lucille Lewis, Martha Meyer, Mary Stonehouse, and Margaret Garmoe.