Charles "Chuck" Ford

Charles "Chuck" Frederick Ford, 86, formerly of Fry Avenue in Hagerstown, passed from this life on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 while in the loving care of NMS Healthcare.

Born on March 12, 1926 in Charlestown, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Samuel R. and Zeluska Z. (Palmer) Ford.

Chuck was a 1944 graduate of Hagerstown High School after which he received an appointment to the United States Marine Cadet Corps. Following his basic training at Henderson Point in Mississippi, he was assigned aboard the S.S. Lacrosse for a six month tour of duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean War Zones. Chuck was a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York and after graduation he set back to sea on the Duke Victory and Joshua Slocum, A Liberty. He served as First Engineer of the Duke Victory during it's decommissioning. He later set sail for two cruises to South America on the Argentina and was called to serve aboard the Brazil on the Caribbean. Following the tour aboard the Brazil he ventured to civilian life.

He worked as an Office Manager for Pangborn Corporation in Hagerstown, retiring after thirty-seven years, and continued to work for five years as Purchasing Manager for Citicorp before his final retirement.

Chuck was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Hagerstown where he had served as the Junior Warden. He was also formerly a member of the Hagerstown Optimist Club, the Jaycees of Hagerstown, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge #378. He had also served as Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop #12 in Hagerstown.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joanne M. (Moats) Ford of Hagerstown; three daughters, Vanessa J. Gilbreath of Adelphi, Maryland, Beverly A. Miller of New Ringgold, Pennsylvania and Mary A. Behan of Falling Waters, West Virginia; one son, Charles F. Ford, II of Shepherdstown, West Virginia; two sisters, Jane Diffenderfer of Hagerstown and Mary Bohemer of Wichita, Kansas; and one brother, John Ford of Martinsburg, West Virginia. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Elmore Dolan, Ralph, Webster and Edward Ford.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 30, 2012 at St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 South Prospect Street, Hagerstown, Maryland. The Rev. Anne Boyd will officiate. The family will gather with friends for a time of fellowship immediately following the ceremony. Final resting-place ceremonies with Military Honors rendered by the Marine Corps League and the Amvets Post #10 of Hagerstown will be held privately at Manor Church Cemetery in Tilghmanton, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 South Prospect Street, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740.