Robert Ford Sr.

Robert E. Ford, Sr., 84, of Church Road, departed this life April 28, 2008 at John Randolph Medical Center after a brief period of declining health. He was born July 10, 1923 to Eleanor Williams Ford and John W. Ford. He was predeceased by his sisters, Laura F. Ivey and Mary Catherine Ford. He retired from Allied Signal (Hopewell Plant) after 43 years of service. He was also a past member of the Ford Volunteer Fire Department and the Dinwiddie County Rescue Squad. Robert leaves behind a caring and devoted wife of 55 years, Margaret Morris Ford; two daughters, Deborah Ford Castle (Jack) of Hopewell and Cynthia Ford Clay (Jerry) of Church Road; one son, Robert Edward Ford, Jr. of Ford; one sister, Nancy Ford Robertson of Colonial Heights; and five grandchildren, Taylor Ann Ford, Sarah Meade Castle, Hayley Louise Clay, Justin Ford Clay (fiancée Kristen Frymoyer) and Hunter Sutherland Clay. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 2008 at Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Petersburg Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 3935 S. Crater Road. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to either the Ford Volunteer Fire Department, 13402 Cox Road, Church Road, Virginia 23833 or Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 4814 Courthouse Road, Church Road, Virginia 23833.