Ford was born in Frankfort, Indiana to Russell Ward Freeman and Madalene (Unroe) Freeman on June 23,1949.
At age seventeen Ford enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After boot camp Ford attended Vietnamese language school at Guantanamo, Cuba. Ford served for nineteen months in Vietnam and saw extensive battle action while there.
Ford is preceded in death by both of his parents, his older brother, Victor Dirk Unroe, his sister, Gay Marlene Freeman and sister Anita Marie Quintero.
He is also preceded in death by his second wife Teresa Maness and third wife Avis (Sissy) Freeman.
Ford is survived by his daughter and her husband, Melanie and John Rhodes, granddaughter and her husband Hollyanne and Mike Wilkes, his grandson Jonathan Rhodes, and brother Mark Edward Freeman.
A visitation for Ford will be held Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM at Metcalf Funeral Directors, 1801 E White Oak Terrace, Conroe, Texas with a celebration of life following at 10:00 AM. Ford will be laid to rest in Atoy Cemetery, Rusk, Texas.