Ford C. Legarreta

Ford Chester Legarreta passed away peacefully on New Year's Eve 2018, with his family at his bedside. Ford's love of his family and fascination with all things scientific was well known. For many years, he was an avid sailor, having acquired expertise with sail boards, hobie cats and keelboats. After his military service in Vietnam in 1966-1967, he worked as a civil engineer with Dewberry Companies in Fairfax, Virginia for 35 years, prior to his retirement in 2004. His first marriage was to Alexanderia "Colly" Vanderhoff, and they had two daughters, who produced four grandchildren and a great granddaughter. He married JoAnna Pillis Legarreta in 2004, following the passing of Colly. In retirement, Ford was able to hone his skills as a photographer, making amazing images of the moon and other astronomical bodies, and the birds that frequented the area around his home. Ford is survived by his wife, JoAnna, daughters Wendi Harvey and April Runge, grandchildren Kaitlyn (Ben) Jester, Amber (Sean) Cranston, Nicholas Antirose and Jase Runge, great granddaughter Madeline Rose Jester, and his brother, David Legarreta. Now on every New Year's Eve, the fireworks will remind all of his family and friends of Ford's passing on to his own new life in the light. A memorial reception will be held at the offices of Dewberry Companies, 8403 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA, on Saturday, January 5, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Private burial services will be at Quantico National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Capital Caring Hospice Services, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.