Thomas Allison Ford, Jr.

Father of Quinn, Florence, and Deedee

Mr. Thomas A. Ford, Jr.-age 82; a native and lifelong resident of Mobile, AL died June, 26, 2016 at Southeastern Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve, LA. Mr. Ford was a 1948 graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic School, 1952 graduate of McGill Institute and 1956 graduate of Spring Hill College. He was an active member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and a recipient of the Christ the King medal from the Archdiocese of Mobile.

He started out as a newspaper carrier for the Mobile Press Register. His favorite job was at Frank Stoll’s Men’s Store working for Harry White right after college before joining the United States Army as a transportation officer where he commanded five different units in Heilbon, Germany - 151st Light Truck Transportation Co.; Camp Leroy Johnson-New Orleans; Armored Personnel Carrier; Baumholder, Germany, Co. “B”, 20th Trans Battalion and 512th Transportation Company Platoon leader, Ship Platoon. He was also stationed 957 miles from the North Pole at Sondrestrom Air Base in Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland which was "a Bachelor’s Paradise with a girl behind every tree". He served as Commander of Floating Craft Detachment 7505 in New Orleans, went back to Thule, Greenland then was sent stateside to Eglin, Fla. due to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He went back to New Orleans to Camp Leroy Johnson where he was Billeting Officer & CO of the Officers Club. He transferred to Fort Eustis in VA and on to Germany as CO of 527th Transportation Corp in Stuttgart, GER.; tour of duty in Vietnam; Interim commander in N.O. of the 71st Transportation Co. 1st company then Sr. Unit Adv for 1176 Army reserve Terminal in Glen Burnie, MD. and finally was with the US Army Reserve 1184th in Mobile, AL.

After the Army came jobs with SeaLand at the Perry St. Wharf, New Orleans and Courtaulds North America Traffic Division, ARI Copier Machine Co. & Heartland Credit Card Machines in Mobile before retiring to the social life as Past President & Secretary-Treasurer of the Mobile Traffic & Transportation Club; Past Chairman of the Lay Advisory Board of the Allen Memorial Home, Past President of the Knights Of Columbus Council 666; Past Faithful Navigator & Grand Knight of Bishop Toolen Assembly 001 4th Degree Knights of Columbus; Chairman, Finance Council St. Joan of Arc Church; Member of the Fairhope Yacht Club for 60+ yrs.; Past President & 35+ year member of Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; Band Coordinator, Room captain, Float Captain for Order of Inca for 30+ yrs.; member of Fifty Funny Fellows; American Legion Post 3; VFW Post 49; Reserve Officers Association; Racing Committee for the Dauphin Island Sailing Regatta; Mobile Mardi Gras Association, Band Coordinator for Inca & a couple other Mardi Gras Organizations; Maryland Jaycees; Mobile Jaycees; Mobile Power Squadron; Azalea City Junior Rifle Club and the Cub Scouts.

Mr. Ford was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas A. and Mabel Wall Ford and a brother Richard V. Ford. He is survived by his children: Quinn Ford (Jeannine), Gretna, LA, Florence Hindes (Mark), Gretna, LA, Deirdre "DeeDee" Cenac (Christopher), Sparks, NV, five grandchildren, Bridgette Cenac, Alexander Hindes, Nicole Cenac, Abigail Hindes, Allison Cenac, & bonus grandchildren, Kathleen Cenac, Jonathan Hindes, bonus great-grandchild Meadow Cenac, former wife Colette D. Villere’-Ford, brother, Michael A. Ford (Dorothy) of Fairhope, AL; numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and very special friend Laura E. “Betty“ Reniewicz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 PM. on Saturday, July, 9, 2016 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM. until 12 PM. at Radney Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Mary’s, McGill Institute, Spring Hill College or Catholic Charities. Internment will be in Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements by RADNEY FUNERAL HOME, 3155 Dauphin St., Ext., Mobile, AL 36606. Condolences may be offered online at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.