Willie "Whitey" Ford

Willie “Whitey” Ford, 86, of Connersville, died Thursday evening, February 7, 2019, at Heritage House of Connersville. Willie was born March 11, 1932, to Henry and Sudie Woods Ford in Jackson County, Kentucky. He served for fourteen months and eight days in Korea with the U.S. Army helping to build roads during the war. His military decorations included the Korean Service Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars. Willie had been employed at Ford Aerospace and was a member of the Fairfield Lodge #98, F. & A.M. In his leisure time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and farming his property in Orange Township. Willie is survived by his son: Gayle Ford and his wife, Judy of Connersville; his grandchildren and their spouses: Josh Ford and Adam Ford, both of Taylor, Michigan; Erica Grace and Tyson of Cincinnati, Ohio; Autumn Upchurch and Terry, John Combs and Carla, all of Connersville; his great-grandchildren: Alex Grace, Caroline Grace, Tearra Upchurch, Javaun Upchurch and his wife, Brooke; Dixie, Daisy, Viedelia, Lilly and Ava Combs; his great-great-grandchildren: Zámaya, Zévaun and Nalaya Upchurch; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Willie is preceded in death by his wife, the former Gladys L. Brown who died in 1991; his daughter: Joyce Elaine Woody; his siblings: Lurena Persinger, Lynn Shellberg, Daniel, Floyd, Joe and Heron Ford. Funeral services will conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville with Pastor Mal Gibson of the First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery with military graveside services conducted by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time on Wednesday. For additional information, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.