FORD, Ester Mildred (nee Anderson) 1936-1997

FORD, ANDERSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/21/2009 at 12:39:50

Ester Mildred Ford

NORA SPRINGS, IOWA - Ester Mildred Ford, 61, of 816 W. Congress, died on Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 202 N. Hawkeye, with the Rev. Richard Pippert officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m. in the Sunnyside Memory Gardens Cemetery, Charles City.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, and will continue one hour prior to the services on Friday at the church.

Ester Mildred Ford was born March 21, 1936, a spring baby, at Nora Springs, daughter of Leonard Burton and Gladys Helen (Anderson) Shanks. She grew up in Nora Springs, living on the farm and in town, with seven brothers and one sister. Ester graduated from Nora Springs High School in 1954.

She married Duane Harold Ford on May 29, 1954, on a very hot day in Yuma, Arizona. Ester spent her entire life in Nora Springs providing child care to many families in the area; a fact that she was very proud of. Ester raised three children, enjoyed eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild, who was just recently born.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Nora Springs, and taught Sunday school there when her children were small.

Ester enjoyed antiquing, camping, fishing and traveling to Florida and California to visit family members. She had always wanted to travel more. She especially loved gardening and canning.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Duane Ford, Nora Springs; two daughters, Darla Drewelow, Parkersburg, and Deana VerHelst, Creston; one son, Dana Ford, Albert Lea, Minn.; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Dorothy Franks, Wyoming; six brothers, Burton Shanks and Earl Shanks, both of Mason City; George Shanks, Glen Shanks, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, David Shanks, Burleson, Texas, and Larry Shanks, Henderson, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Howard; and one granddaughter, Becky Drewelow. She will be joining her parents, brother and granddaughter in her heavenly home.

GLOBE GAZETTE - 04/17/1997