Robert L. Ford, lovingly known as 'Bob,' 67, peacefully passed away Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, at his home with his family by his side. Born in Utica, Miss., in 1939, he was the son of Frank Leon Ford and Thelma Lee Eubanks. At the age of 17, Bob joined the U.S. Army National Guard and began his lifelong love of service to others. He thoroughly enjoyed the life of a military man and thus enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1960. In 1963, Bob married his lovely wife of 43 years, Nellie Grey Strickland from Seven Springs, N.C. Together they traveled the United States as a military family, while dedicating their life to the Lord. As an enlisted man in the U.S. Air Force, Bob went to school at night to receive his Associate's degree from East Carolina University, and his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Tennessee. At that time, he was accepted into Officer Candidate School where he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. After a successful 22-year military career, Bob retired as a Captain from Langley Air Force Base. He then continued his service as a civil servant with the U.S. Army for 21 years. Bob loved to share his passion for learning as shown through his years of mentoring school age children and teaching at Thomas Nelson Community College, Florida Institute of Technology, Saint Leo College and several other institutions. Survivors include his lifelong companion, Nellie Grey Ford, who was always by his side especially near the end of his journey; his daughter, Robin Nell Short of Poquoson; three sons, Robert Lee Ford Jr. (Buddy) and wife, Patti Ford, of Erie, Pa., George Patrick Ford and wife, Kellye Pai-Ford, of Hampton, and William Leon Ford of Norfolk; and his favorites – the grandchildren, Carrie, Robert III, Morgan, Benjamin, Gabriel, Jake and Malia. If you knew Bob, you knew that he was quick-witted and quick to speak his mind. He was a leader in everything he did, loved his family dearly and wanted to be surrounded by them all of the time. The family would like to express deep gratitude to all of the hospice caregivers with special thanks to Sarah Kobezak, Irene McCabe, Malia Meadows, Louise Durie, Michelle Brown, Tramesha Good and Chaplain David Lekarczyk. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at their residence in Poquoson. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home, Poquoson, by Chaplain David Lekarczyk, followed by burial at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk with military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 'In Loving Memory of Robert L. Ford,' P.O. Box 10086, Toledo, OH 43699-0086.

(Obituary published in the Daily Press, Newport News, VA from 12/7/2006 - 12/8/2006.