Rodney W. Ford

Rodney W. Ford, age 84, died unexpectedly on Friday, March 31, 2017, in Sebring, Florida. He was a lifelong resident of New Castle, Indiana, and a 1951 graduate of New Castle High School. After graduation, he enlisted for four years in the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War. He was deployed to Japan for three and a half years and served in the Secret Service. He played fullback on the Air Force football team and boxed. While in Japan, he was asked to play the character of heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling in the Japanese movie, “Gates to the Spring Snow.” After an honorable discharge in 1955 with the rank of Airman First Class, Rodney married his childhood sweetheart, Dixie (Laurie) Ford. They then moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where he played freshman football at Purdue University.

Rodney attended Florida State and Purdue Universities. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and business administration from Ball State University in 1959. He received an engineering degree from GE Lighting Institute. He engineered the lighting of the Henry County Court House in New Castle during the mid 1960’s. In 1971 and 1972 he attended graduate school to work towards his MBA.

After college Rodney worked for World Bestos. He also worked for Chrysler Corp. as an accountant and for Public Service Inc. as both engineer and salesman. The last twenty years he was employed by the Ball Corporation in Muncie, where he managed distribution, warehousing, and the office of the Consumer Products Division.

Rodney’s great love and true passion in life was sports, which included a total of 10 years of football: 4 years of high school, 3 years in the Air Force, 1 year at Purdue, and 2 years at Ball State University. He truly enjoyed coaching 5 years of Little League football. His hobbies included fishing, golf, archery, handball, down-hill skiing, water skiing, bicycling, tennis, ice skating, swimming, duplicate bridge, and most recently, pickle ball. He was president of the New Castle Archery Club and the National Hoosier Archery Association, where he was a Class A archer. Rodney and his wife won the Man and Wife State Championship, indoor and outdoor. Later in life Rodney developed a passion for duplicate bridge. He served as an officer of the New Castle club and was presently a member of the Muncie Duplicate Club. He achieved his Bronze, Life, and Ruby Masters.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Dixie; two sons, David M. (wife: Janice) Ford and Kameron F. Ford; two grandchildren, Heather Ford of San Francisco, CA and Josh (Kristen) Owens; two brothers, Fredrick (Patricia) Ford, Jr.; a sister, Terry (husband: Grant) Ingle; sister-in-law; Edith Ford; several nieces and nephews.

Rodney was preceded in death by his parents, Fredrick Ford, Sr. and Rosemond (Pride) Ford; and brother, David N. Ford.

The celebration of Rodney’s life will be held at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Visitation will be held from 1:00pm until the time of service. Burial will follow at Brick Cemetery in Hagerstown, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cleveland Clinic Foundation Heart and Vascular Institute (In Memory of Rodney Ford), PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH, 44193-1655 please note on donation: Honorary Life of Rodney Ford, Heart and Vascular Institute; or to the charity of one’s choice.
Condolences and memories of Rodney may be shared at www.hinsey-brown.com .