Laconia-----Wayne Clayton Ford, 64, of 30 Fairview Street, died at the V. A. Medical Center, Manchester, N. H. on Monday, March 30, 2009.
Mr. Ford was born November 24, 1944 in Laconia, N. H. He was the eldest of three children born to Clayton A. and Grace S. (Gilson) Ford.
Mr. Ford was a lifelong resident of Laconia and served in the U. S. Army from April, 1962 until December, 1964. He took his Basic Training at Fort Dix, N.J. and was stationed at the Panama Canal Zone until he came home in 1964. After his return, he did variety of jobs including driving for Richardson’s Cab Service and was a machinist for Crane Manufacturing in Lakeport. He found his calling, however, as an avid railroad enthusiast. He worked for many years for the New England Southern Railroad, where he performed as Brakeman, Conductor, then Engineer, ending that career as Dispatcher, working out of the Littleton Yards. He was always fascinated with trains. He was a railroad engineer serving the N.H. North Coast for fifteen years, retiring in 2005.
Mr. Ford was a member of the Center Harbor Christian Church. He enjoyed railroads, photography, motorcycle riding, reading and flower gardens.
Mr. Ford is survived by his wife, Juanita “Wendy” (Waldron) Ford, of Laconia; two sons, Robert W. Ford of Stillwater, Oklahoma and John W. Ford; an adopted son, John Patrick Ford, of Scottsdale, Penn; step-daughter, Kim (Beaupre) Sorell, of Meredith; six grandchildren; two sisters, Katherine Gerlarneau of Moultonborough and Linda Constant of Meredith; an adopted brother, Conrad Chapman and one nephew and one niece.
There will be no calling hours or funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Two Commerce Drive, Suite 110, Bedford, NH 03110.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.