Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Chimes at Laurel Land Funeral Home in Fort Worth, TX with a visitation starting at 10 a.m. A Graveside Service to follow at 1:30 p.m. at DFW National Cemetery. Shirley will be buried next to her husband Dale.
Shirley was born on October 21, 1928, in Greenville, Pennsylvania to her parents Lawrence and Mamie (Holbrook) Bortz. Shirley was a 1946 graduate of Penn High School, and a 1950 graduate of Thiel College, with a degree in elementary education, both in Greenville, PA.
Shirley married Dale C. Ford on July 24, 1953. And their married journey first led them to Indiana and then to Fort Worth, TX with time spent in California and Taiwan along the way.
Shirley was involved with the choir at her church, Western Hills United Methodist Church. She enjoyed reading the daily newspaper, watching Texas Rangers Baseball, and playing the piano.
Shirley and Dale loved traveling around the USA in their RV, and visiting family and friends.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence and Mamie Bortz; her son Larry Ford; her sister Marie (Bortz) Vaughn; niece Patty Locke, niece Cindy Locke; nephew David Vaughn; and her loving husband Dale of 66 years.
Shirley is survived by her sons Kenny and his girlfriend Robin, and Robert and his wife Dian; six grandchildren; 14 grandchildren; several nieces and a nephew.
Memorials can be made to Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas Inc., P.O. Box 670031, Dallas, TX, 75367 or a charity of your choice.
