Lillian Crocker Ford

Lillian Ford passed away on November 6, 2022. She was born on September 25, 1928, and was the youngest child born to Leon Brokell and Ida Mae Kears Brokell. Her siblings were Leon Jr., George, Janice Brokell (Kelly), and Vernon Brokell. She was born and grew up in Millville, NJ. After finishing school, she went to work in the local cotton mill factory along with her mother and her brother George. At 18, she met John Ford at that same factory, through her brother George. John happened to mention to George one day that he “liked the looks” of that lady, who just happened to be George’s sister! So, they got to know each other and married on March 28, 1950. Two years later, they had a daughter, Bonnie. Lillian was a devoted housewife and mother. She and John were married 69 years, until his passing in 2019. Lillian supported her husband through 24 years of military service and also through her husband’s second longtime civilian career. While her husband John served in the Air Force, they moved and experienced life in such places as Colorado, California, Florida and Georgia. Whenever John had to travel overseas on missions lasting 3, 6, or 9 months with the Air Force, Lillian “held down the fort” stateside. When Lillian turned 40, she decided she should learn how to drive, so she got her driver’s license, and drove a very small Toyota around the Washington, DC suburbs. She said she chose a very small car because she wanted to be sure she could handle the car and wanted to make sure she didn’t have any accidents or run anyone over!

Lillian enjoyed several hobbies. When she was younger, she enjoyed crocheting, and she and John also loved going to Atlantic City to play the slots. She was also a huge Mickey Mouse fan, from the time Mickey was initially known as “Steamboat Willie” and always remembered that Mickey was also “born” the same year as she was in 1928. She and her husband John and extended family visited Disney World many times from the time it opened in 1970. She also loved to talk about the animator himself, Walt Disney, and mentioned many times that his wife was also named Lillian. Anyone who knew Lillian knew that she loved Micky and Minnie Mouse so much that she could always be seen with a Mickey blanket, a Mickey or Minnie shirt, or many small and large stuffed Mickeys and Minnies and figurines. She also enjoyed shopping, Bingo, and pepperoni pizza. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Kevin Acoveno, and grandchildren David M. Leapley, Kevin Acoveno, Jr., Colby Acoveno, and Courtney Townsend, their spouses, and 10 great grandchildren.

Memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, November 17 from 5pm-8pm. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Lillian Ford to The Mark Wandall Foundation at www.themarkwandallfoundation.org or to Manatee River Assisted Living, 820 5th Street W, Palmetto, FL 34221, phone 941 721-0426.