Mr. Joseph E. Ford, age 87, a resident of Andover, formerly of Lawrence and North Reading, passed away at the Lawrence General Hospital in Lawrence on Sunday, November 26, 2017, surrounded by his closest family members. He was the beloved husband of Doris A. (Stopplebein) Ford and the late Jeannine (Geoffroy) Ford and son of the late George and Mary (Mulvey) Ford.
Mr. Ford was a graduate of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, class of 1948. He was a US Air Force Veteran, entering the military in Boston in 1951 and receiving his honorable discharge from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in 1955. Mr. Ford was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary service. He had attained the rank of Airman, First Class prior to his discharge.
In civilian life, Joe was employed by the US Postal Service in Andover as a letter carrier for 25 years. He had also been employed by Western Electric as a radar technician.
In his spare time, Joe enjoyed history (particularly WWII), baseball, walking to downtown Andover, discussing politics, and traveling, especially to New Hampshire and Cape Cod. Joe loved to "shoot the breeze" at the Grocery Bag. He spoke often with his dear, late brother, George. He also loved dining out. Joe was a proud and active member of the National Association of Letter Carriers union and a communicant of and volunteer at St. Augustine Church of Andover. He will be dearly missed.
Besides his beloved wife of 40 years, Doris, he is survived by his loving children: Christine L. Ford and her husband Steven E. McLaughlin of Reading and Stephen J. Ford of Natick. He is also survived by his stepchildren Diane and her husband Roger Wilson of Danvers, Thomas Crowley of Grand Prairie, Texas and James L. Crowley of Tempe, Arizona, grandchildren; Chloe and Jack McLaughlin, Daniel and Adam Ford, Shauna Betof, Kristin Bielecki, Heather Wilson and Shane Crowley, great-grandchildren; Anya, Kayla, Samantha, Patrick, Theo and Miles and many nieces and nephews. He was also the stepfather of the late Michael Crowley and brother of the late George A. Ford, Jr.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the St. Augustine Church, 43 Essex Street, Andover, MA on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 12:30 PM. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Calling hours will be held in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover on Friday, December 1, 2017, from 4 to 8 PM. Interment will be held in the St. Mary Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph's memory may be made to the St. Augustine Church, 43 Essex Street, Andover, MA 01810 or to the American Cancer Society, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.