1927
Billy
2017
Billy James Ford
December 3, 1927 — January 12, 2017
Billy James Ford, 89, passed away on January 12th at Pruitt Healthcare in Harrisburg.
Bill was born Dec. 3, 1927, in Cabarrus County, the son of the late Lester and Annie Strube Ford. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Fink Ford, and a brother, Thurmond “Punch” Ford.
Bill was a graduate of Hartsell High School and Catawba College and later received his Masters at N.C. A&T. On Dec. 23, 1950 he married Mildred Fink and they resided in the Winecoff Community and were active members of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.
He was known as ‘Coach Ford’ to so many of the students he taught at Mooresville (1958-60) then at Concord High from 1960-89. He served as baseball coach at Concord High from 1961-83, and was athletic director from 1964-89. He also was a girls’ basketball coach, cross-country, golf and football coach during his tenure at CHS. He also helped formed the Concord High chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He coached American Legion baseball at Kannapolis (1960-64) and at Concord (1965-66) and served as a longtime American Legion umpire. Before his coaching days, he played professional baseball for 12 years, mostly in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Coach Ford was inducted into the Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
He was active in his community working as a Sunday School teacher at Mount Olivet where he was also in the choir, was active in the Lay Witness Mission of the Methodist Church, contributed his time with the Senior Citizens Tax Program, the Lions Club, Noon Optimist Club, CBMC, American Legion, and the Piedmont Singing Men. He also served in the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Brandon (Charles) of Concord; sons Randy (Susan) of Cornelius, Alan of Shelby, Brian (Vickie) and Marty, of Concord; grandchildren Rachel, Austin, Christina and Spencer Ford; plus nephews Jeff (Suzan) and Jami Rodgers, and David Ford (Jamie); along with other loving family and friends.
The family would also like to thank special friends who drove Bill to lunches, golf, ballgames, and other events including Bill Fink, Arlin and Olivia Dancy, Bill Boger, Richard Lapish, Bryant Parnell, E.Z. Smith, Dale Barbee, Britt Alley and countless others.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21 at Connect Christian Church, Highway 3101 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027, with visitation to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Building Fund, at 301 Mount Olivet Road, Concord, NC 28025; or to the Keystone Club at the Cabarrus County Girls and Boys Club, P.O. Box 1405, Concord, NC 28026. 1405
Bill was born Dec. 3, 1927, in Cabarrus County, the son of the late Lester and Annie Strube Ford. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Fink Ford, and a brother, Thurmond “Punch” Ford.
Bill was a graduate of Hartsell High School and Catawba College and later received his Masters at N.C. A&T. On Dec. 23, 1950 he married Mildred Fink and they resided in the Winecoff Community and were active members of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.
He was known as ‘Coach Ford’ to so many of the students he taught at Mooresville (1958-60) then at Concord High from 1960-89. He served as baseball coach at Concord High from 1961-83, and was athletic director from 1964-89. He also was a girls’ basketball coach, cross-country, golf and football coach during his tenure at CHS. He also helped formed the Concord High chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He coached American Legion baseball at Kannapolis (1960-64) and at Concord (1965-66) and served as a longtime American Legion umpire. Before his coaching days, he played professional baseball for 12 years, mostly in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Coach Ford was inducted into the Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
He was active in his community working as a Sunday School teacher at Mount Olivet where he was also in the choir, was active in the Lay Witness Mission of the Methodist Church, contributed his time with the Senior Citizens Tax Program, the Lions Club, Noon Optimist Club, CBMC, American Legion, and the Piedmont Singing Men. He also served in the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Brandon (Charles) of Concord; sons Randy (Susan) of Cornelius, Alan of Shelby, Brian (Vickie) and Marty, of Concord; grandchildren Rachel, Austin, Christina and Spencer Ford; plus nephews Jeff (Suzan) and Jami Rodgers, and David Ford (Jamie); along with other loving family and friends.
The family would also like to thank special friends who drove Bill to lunches, golf, ballgames, and other events including Bill Fink, Arlin and Olivia Dancy, Bill Boger, Richard Lapish, Bryant Parnell, E.Z. Smith, Dale Barbee, Britt Alley and countless others.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21 at Connect Christian Church, Highway 3101 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027, with visitation to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Building Fund, at 301 Mount Olivet Road, Concord, NC 28025; or to the Keystone Club at the Cabarrus County Girls and Boys Club, P.O. Box 1405, Concord, NC 28026. 1405
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billy James Ford, please visit our flower store.
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