Linda Hazen Ford

LINDA HAZEN FORD, 85, of Greencastle, Indiana, passed from this life in the early hours of October 9, 2026. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 28, 1940, and was proudly adopted by Oren John “Bill’ Hazen and Josephine Dodson Hazen, and her brother Richard R. Hazen.

She had a happy childhood, including her beloved horse, a mustang mare named Penny that she received on Mother’s Day in 1950, and Penny’s colt, a blue gray roan named Little Guy. At one point, she worked with the Civil Air Patrol, “because you got to fly airplanes.” She said that she had the best job as a clerk because of the air conditioning, and that at one point, she got to navigate and operate the refueling boom in the airplane.

She graduated from Olympus High School in Salt Lake in 1958, and from the University of Utah in Elementary Education in 1962. She was a participant in “Project Cause” nationwide after college, a campus training for vocational counselors through the U.S. Department of Education and did her postgraduate work at the University of Utah and Utah State.

On August 3, 1963, she married Earnest James “Ernie” Ford, Jr. They had met at the University as undergraduates, in their freshman biology course, and discovered that their families knew each other. Linda was the photographer for the college newspaper, and Ernie was, of course, a reporter. They proudly welcomed to their family Stacey D. Ford in 1970, and E. James Ford (“Jim”) in 1975.

They moved with Ernie’s jobs, first to Idaho Falls where Ernie was a news editor, and then back to Salt Lake City, then to Dallas, Texas, during which Ernie had an outstanding journalistic career and was recognized by regional Emmys and many other awards. They finally moved to Greencastle, Indiana, in 1992, so that Ernie could assume his duties as the president of the Society of Professional Journalists.

In 1994, Linda and Ernie opened “Fine Print Book Store”, which was located near the downtown square of Greencastle, and which served for fifteen years as a gathering place for book lovers of all ages.

Linda and Ernie were deeply involved in the Putnam County Playhouse, where Ernie was both an actor and a director, and Linda always served as his assistant director. Linda was passionate about theatre, classical music, movies and reading, especially science fiction. She loved discussions about the nature of life and the universe, and her sharp mind and keen intellect was evident to all who spoke with her.

She was a founding member of the Silver Lining Players, a local group for senior thespians, and performed in many events in the Greencastle area. In 2021, she participated in the Greencastle Theatre Geeks “Zoom” production of MacBeth, playing one of the three witches.

Linda spent her last year at Hickory Creek at Sunset in Greencastle, where the staff was kind and generous with her, and for whom she expressed her gratitude daily.

Linda was predeceased by her husband, Ernie, in 2011, and by her parents and her brother. Surviving are her two children, Stacey D. Ford Petersen (Preston) of Greencastle, Indiana, and E. James Ford of Brooklyn, New York, her grandsons, Zethor Petersen and Daniel Matheney and her forever friend, Sharon Rishe. She is also survived by a wealth of friends who will miss her dearly. She asked us to say “I want to thank you all for being my family and friends”

A Celebration of Linda’s Life will be held on Sunday, October 25 at 3 PM, at the Putnam County Playhouse, 715 South County Road 100 East, Greencastle, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, Linda has requested that memorial donations be made to her daughter Stacey D. Petersen, 316 E. Hanna Street, PO Box 236, Greencastle, IN 46135, in the form of money orders, Western Union or any other form, OR to PayPal.com (@SPETERSEN013)

“Wherever you go, wisdom. There you are, humanity.” Linda Ford