The Ford Family

Born	July 16, 1900 Williamsfield, OH
Died	July 19, 1980 Rockford, IL
Father	Thomas Albert Ford
Mother	Edith Emeline Ford
Siblings	Newell A Ford Harold E Ford

Spouse	Olive Bertha Ford
Married	April 5, 1961 Little Home Church by the Wayside, Wayne, IL

Former Spouse	Gladys Margaret Ford
Children	William Frank Ford Peter Woodworth Ford David Palmer Ford

Bio
How does one even begin to tell the story of such a wonderful man as Dr. William Kenneth Ford (WKF)? The kind and gentle person you see here was born in the summer of 1900 in a farmhouse in Williamsfield, Ohio. His mother traveled back home from Chicago to give birth to her second child in her childhood home. He was born to a hard-working and very successful English immigrant named Thomas Albert Ford. Thomas was an entrepreneur - a contractor - and had somehow met the beautiful Edith Emeline Woodworth, a farm girl from northeast Ohio. He married her and even convinced her to move away to Chicago with him. He must have been a great salesman indeed.

WKF had a charmed childhood. He had brothers to play with, a great home built by his father and very devoted parents. His father took time from his busy schedule to ride bikes with Bill and his brothers. The family was well off and got one of the very first Model T cars! They drove it to many places and spent a great deal of time vacationing on different lakes in Michigan. They finally settled on Torch Lake and built their summer home there on the banks.

WKF was highly intelligent and his brothers seem very smart as well. His oldest brother Newell eventually took over and ran his father's construction business. Little brother Harold went off to MIT in Massachusetts and graduated with an engineering degree in 1929.

In October of 1913, Bill's father returned from one of his many trips to England, this time aboard the Lusitania. Bill heads off to St. John's Military Academy in Delafield Wisconsin the following year. Then, in May of 1915, that same Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine. WKF turns 18 not long after and, not surprisingly, is registered for the draft by September.

With the war over WKF goes off to join his older brother Newell at the University of Illinois where they were both members of Phi Beta Kappa. WKF later graduates from Loyola University of Medicine. He receives his Medical Degree on June 11th,1924. Bill completes his residency in Chicago at Mercy Hospital. He practices in dermatology with B.W. Sippy Group until 1931 at which time he begins teaching. He starts this teaching career at Rockford Memorial Hospital, but before long he is recruited back to the University of Illinois. Sometime in 1932 the dashing young doctor is snatched up by Glady Schrom and they have three boys of their own. He returns to Rockford Memorial and advances from Assistant to Full Instructor and then on to Clinical Professor, but he also opens a practice on the 6th floor of the Gas & Electric Building, 303 North Main Street. Soon, however, his nation will call him to duty.

His medical exam in February of 1942 stated he was not qualified to serve his country due to his defective vision in both eyes (10/20) and the moderate deviation of his nasal septum to the right. His defects are noted, and overlooked. On the positive side, his head and face were declared "normal" and his general appearance was good. The Secretary of the Navy appoints William Kenneth Ford as "Surgeon with the rank of Lieutenant Commander" on June 9th 1942. In July he begins a series of immunizations such as Cowpox, Typhoid, Cholera, and Yellow Fever. He is stationed in Seattle at the U.S. Naval Hospital but soon finds himself in the South Pacific. He is based in Australia. Having learned to fly back in Rockford, he pilots a small plane from island to island and to the Philippines, eventually becoming the Chief Dermatologist of the Seventh Fleet. WKF is finally discharged in January of 1946 and comes home to rebuild his practice.

His oldest son, William F Ford (WFF), is married in November of 1955 (before becoming a pilot himself) and WKF serves as the best man in the wedding in Cleveland. WKF later divorces Glady and is married to Olive Seaworth on April 5, 1961 at Little Home Church by the Wayside in Wayne, Illinois. They remained happily married for the rest of their lives. WKF continued to practice medicine, with Ollie at his side serving as office manager and nurse. Some of the many professional activities and associations in which he was involved include: American Board of Dermatology, Chicago Dermatology Society, Illinois State Committee on Aging, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for the Boy Scouts, President of Blue Shield Plans, Illinois and Winnebago County Medical Societies. In November of 1965 he was presented with the Man of the Year Award by Chicago Mercy Hospital - recognizing his military record, medical society activities, and general contribution to the community.

Grandpa Ford also enjoyed bowling, photography, and making fudge that he would send in individually wrapped packages to his grandchildren. He had 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and by December of 2017, he already had 9 great, great grandchildren. His oldest granddaughter, however, remembers him most for his warm smile; welcoming arms, and the magical concoction he created (grandpa's medicine) that soothed her painful skin which was often blistered and painful from her childhood eczema.

He died suddenly in July of 1980 from a brain embolism, leaving the world a better place because he had been there.

Education
The First Grandpa Ford (yeah, we know there were others before him, but to us he was the first) obtained his M.D. degree from Loyola University. The commencement ceremony was held on Wednesday, June 11, 1924, and Cardinal Mundelhein gave the main address.

He then spent 18 months as an intern at Mercy Hospital in Chicago.