Mary Jane Ford

Mary Jane Ford born December 29, 1936, passed away July 27, 2024. She was married since 1955 for nearly 60 years until her husband Ora Edgar Ford born June 10, 1933, died on January 26, 2015. Children of this union were Gary Ford (Barbara) and 7 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; Gwen Nicholson (Randy) with one grandson who preceded her in death and one granddaughter and three great grandchildren; Greg Ford (Darlene) two step-grandchildren and six great grandchildren; and Gayl Campbell (Randall) with one grandson and three step grandsons and five great grandchildren.

Mary was a 1954 Graduate of Grafton High School, Grafton, WV. She also graduated in 1955 from St. Mary’s Hospital of Medical Technology in Clarksburg, WV. She worked there as a laboratory technician until going to the United Hospital Center in Clarksburg up to and during the building of the new United Hospital in 2000 when she retired. During those years while still fully employed, she attended Fairmont State College for four years for three nights a week and completed CLEP tests for course credits until 1980 when she graduated Cum Laude with a Regents College Degree in Psychology. She became the Manager of the United Hospital Medical Laboratory until retiring.

Mary, who endured physical changes due to an automobile accident when a young wife and mother, never felt sorry for herself. This was exhibited in a letter from 1962 to one of her sisters-in-law when explaining the many medical procedures and her new appearance that she was enduring as well as explaining her daily life with her children and husband: “Come on up and visit a spell!” Inviting all to see for themselves how she was doing. She was known for her fashionable dress, dry sense of humor, and independent spirit.

A private service will be held Sunday, August 4, 2024, at the Pruntytown, West Virginia National Cemetery where Mary will be interred with her husband Ora, a veteran of the Korean War. She requested that her husband’s Burial Flag be donated to the National Cemetery for The Avenues which consist of burial flags donated by the families of deceased Veterans which provides a unique visible tribute to all of our Nation's Veterans.