John R. Ford 86, of Bellingham passed away Wednesday October 18th, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He is predeceased by his wife of 59 years Norma Ford.
He is survived by his son John E. Ford and his partner Lori Davis of Warwick RI, his daughter Amanda Leavitt and her husband David of Bellingham, his granddaughter Jackqueline Fox, her husband Matthew and his two great grandchildren Douglas and Eric of Ohio, his grandson James Melanson of Grafton Ma, his sister-in-law Ann Detterline of Fulton, NY and many nieces and nephews all of central New York.
John enlisted in the Navy in Sept 1955. He served with the Airborne early warning Squadron Fifteen U.S. Naval Air station Patuxent River, Maryland. He received an honorable discharge in Sept 1959. He went onto receive an associate degree from Suny New York. John also taught ballroom dancing at Arthur Murray’s studio in Syracuse NY. He later went on to dance with his daughter for many years at Christine’s dance studio in Bellingham.
He was the president of the Bellingham Friends of Music in the early eighties that supported his son and the Bellingham High School Marching band. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America. He was Cubmaster of pack 100 and later Scoutmaster of Troop 100. He was a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and spent many years as lodge advisor to a wonderful group of scouts.
In the early 80s he formed an explorer post called the Wulamuc Dancers. There were 30 kids in his post and they studied the Native American culture. This lead to him joining the American Indianist Society (AIS) and AIS Heluska. His passion for learning led him to become a skilled craftsman in many areas, especially when working with feathers. His greatest joy was dancing in the arbor.
He was a salesman of industrial temperature controls systems for Bristol Company and later Foxboro Company. Later in life he worked for Kmart in Milford before going to work for the Boy Scouts of America where he finally retired.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his calling hours Saturday Oct. 28th, in the Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. from 11AM-2PM.
A service will follow at 2PM.
Burial will take place at a later date in New York.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Salmon VNA & Hospice 37 Birch St. Milford, MA 01757.