2/24/2003
Memorial services for Donald Raymond Ford, 83, of Burlington, who died Tuesday,
Feb. 25, 2003 in Burlington, were held Friday, Feb. 28, at Lunning Funeral Chapel
in Burlington.
Don was born on April 28, 1919, in Marion County, to Charles R. and Mabel (Buttrey)
Ford. He graduated from Knoxville High School.
Don worked for the CB&Q railroad, then enlisted in the Army in March 1941. He served
in the Signal Corps in Alaska for most of the war years, but requested transfer
to the Air Force and trained as a, pilot. When the war ended, he resumed employment
with the railroad in Burlington.
He was in the Inactive Reserves and served a year in Korea when President Truman
called the reserves to active duty. He again resumed employment with the railroad
in Burlington and retired with more than 40 years of service. He worked for many
years in the ticket office at the rail depot downtown and then later in the freight
office.
He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He became a member of Kaaba Temple
and was active in the Southeast Iowa Shrine Club. He enjoyed parading with the club's
Elite Clowns unit and was proud to support the Shriner's Hospital for Children.
He was also a 32° Mason with the Scottish Rite. He was recognized as a 50-year member
of the Patriot Lodge #650 of the Masons. He was also a member of the American Legion
and the Moose.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter and his parents
He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances; a daughter and son in-law, Shelley and
John Kerley and two grandsons, David and Jeffrey, all of St. Louis; a sister, Betty
Worrall, and one nephew and three nieces all of Knoxville.
Memorials may be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospitals or Grace United Methodist
Church.