Francis N. (Frank) Ford

April 8, 1943 - June 13, 2019

Francis N. (Frank) Ford died on June 13, 2019. A native of Rahway, New Jersey and Woodhaven, New York, he was a summa cum laude graduate of Park College, Parkville, Missouri, and a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. He is predeceased by his parents, Francis H. and Mary Roberta Grace (Monahan) Ford and by his brother Jack. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy J. Adams and his children Francis J. Ford (attorney) and Tiffany, Peter M. Ford (fire prevention specialist), Patrick J. Ford (minister) and Allison, and Deborah C. Ford (designer/architect) and five grandchildren. A Memorial Service with military honors will be held on Friday, June 21st at 11:00 AM at Pine Grove Cemetery in Eatonton. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge, earmarked for the War Veterans Home project, 1116 Lake Oconee Pkwy, Suite 2070, Eatonton, Georgia 31204. Frank was a proud of his military service, having served in the United States, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Korea, and Germany. He served twice in the 82nd Airborne Division, once as an enlisted man and once as an officer. Frank had the privilege of leading and commanding American soldiers overseas and at home, in peace and in war. As a commissioned officer, he served twice as a battery executive (Vietnam), twice as a battalion executive (Ft. Bragg and Warner Barracks, Germany), and twice as a gunnery instructor (Ft. Sill). He was responsible for company-grade and warrant office assignments for the 82nd Airborne Division. He was also Deputy Inspector General for investigations and inspections at Ft. Sill. Frank commanded Battery B 3rd Cannon Training Battalion, FT. Sill; Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, Ft Bragg; Battery D, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, Camp Essayons, Korea; and 2nd Battalion, 34th Field Artillery Regiment Ft. Sill. Franks was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal (two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal (two knots), and serval campaign and service medals. He earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Parachutist Wings, and Air Crewman Wings. He retired as a Lt. Colonel after serving in the Army for 26 years. Frank practiced law in Eatonton, beginning in 1989. He was admitted to practice in all Georgia trial and appellate courts, federal trial courts in the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Frank loved the challenge of a trial but, in the end, he loved the Army more than he loved the law, and he loved his family more than he loved the Army.