Theodore Ford

Theodore "Gil" Gilbert Ford, 81, of Lake Charles, LA passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on November 23, 2014. He was preceded in death by the love of his life Barbara Ann "Barbie" Ford of Lake Charles, LA, his son Wayne Gilbert Ford of New Martinsville, WV, grandson and military Veteran, Justin Wayne Ford of Lafayette, LA and parents, Theodore (Ted) and Florence Ford of Monongahela, PA. Gil is survived by his son Martin and his wife Julie Ford of Carencro, LA; daughter Brenda Dane and her partner Scot Jackson, of Charleston, WV, brothers Eugene and his wife Janet Ford of Lake City, TX, Keith and wife Lila Ford, of Webster, NY, Grandchildren Branden and Bailey Dane of Charlotte, NC and Anna Randol of Lafayette, LA. Gil was a great-grandfather to Paige Elizabeth Ford LaCombe, along with family Renee, Josh, Lance and Ryan LaCombe of Lafayette, LA. Nephews include Gail and Gary Ford, Greg and David Pfohl, Alexis Ford, and Niece Melissa Miller, and best furry friends Pearl and Bruiser Ford. Our beloved daddy, Gilbert Ford was born in October of 1933 in Monessen, PA. With a penchant for science, Gil graduated with honors from Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA with a BS in Inorganic Chemistry and went on to earn a Masters in Chemistry from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He was President of Pi Kappa Alpha ("the Skulls"), President of Chi Epsilon Mu Chemistry Honor Society, a member of the National Defense Transportation Coalition (NDTC) and ROTC. The most important moment of our father's life was when he fell in love, at first sight with our mother and married Barbara Ann "Barbie" Harris. They married in Washington, PA in August of 1956. Gil was an exceptional chemist, scientist, and tinkering genius. Family and friends will tell you that he could take anything apart and put it back together. He was hired in 1957 by PPG Industries to be their Lab Supervisor at the Natrium Petrochemical plant in New Martinsville, WV and then moved to Lake Charles, LA to serve as the Lab Supervisor at the PPG Lake Charles facility in 1972. He retired from PPG Industries after 44 years of employment in 2001. Gil and his beloved bride, Barbara had lived in Washington, PA, New Martinsville, WV and finally Lake Charles, LA for the last 42 years. He was a tireless advocate for the underserved and vulnerable, was a Patriot Guard Member, member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4562, volunteered for the Lake Charles City Police Department, served as a "Citizen on Patrol," AARP Tax Advocate for Senior Citizens, and volunteered with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. The list of his service to others was longer, but throughout the course of his life gave himself unselfishly to others. Those he stood behind would fill an entire book. Gil had a huge heart and was never hesitant to stop what he was doing for the benefit of others. It is difficult to condense the life of our father, Gil Ford. He was our best friend, and "dad" to so many other and his door was always open. He taught all of us selflessness, compassion, courage and unconditional love for everyone in his life. Gil's "life lessons" will continue to teach us even after passing all who knew him have learned to Pay it Forward. We will miss you, Daddy Gil. Make sure to tell everyone hello from all of us and watch over us with your strong heart and deeply powerful wisdom. Family visitation will be held on Friday, November 28, 2014 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm and public visitation will be from 4:00pm - 9:00pm at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605. Telephone: 337-478-8687. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 8:00am on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Johnson Funeral Home, with a procession to Our Lady Queen of Health Catholic Church at 10:30am.Mass will be officiated by Monsignor James Gaddy at 11:00am at Our Lady Queen of Heaven. At the conclusion of Mass, there will be a final procession to Consolata Cemetery, escorting Theodore Gilbert Ford to his final resting place next to his beloved wife, Barbara. The Patriot Guard of Lake Charles will provide a hero's escort. The family would like to especially thank the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Oncology nurses for their professional attention to our father and family, Christus St. Patrick's Home Care and Hospice for their loving, dignified and spiritual care for our dad, the Patriot Guard Riders of Louisiana and West Virginia, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Doug and Donna Nevils, Mark and Nicole Lamoureaux-Busby, Tim and Susan Smith, Rachel Erickson, Ann Ritter Farris, and Joanie Guidry Cochran, along with all of the additional family and friends who have been so supportive and loving as our father prepared for, and took his journey home on the wings of angels. Theodore Gilbert Ford had asked family and friends to donate/support a Living Memorial to benefit his surviving 10 year old great-granddaughter Paige, the daughter of his late grandson, Justin Ford to help continue her battle against the lifetime residual effects of SJS/TENS, a life-threatening reaction to medication.