Thomas Robert Gen. Ford

Major General Thomas R. Ford, USAF Ret, age 87, of Air Force Village II, San Antonio, Texas, passed away on Monday, May 27, 2002. He was born in Edgetts, Michigan on November 4, 1914."Bob" Ford was proud to have achieved the grade to "Eagle Scout" in the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1938 with a BA in business Administration. He married Marilyn Gunnell Ford on November 29 1939 after completing basic and advanced Flying Training at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. "Bob" Ford loved the outdoors and was an avid sportsman, excelling in game shooting, fishing, and golf. His numerous assignments from 1939-1969 included: U.S Panama and Dutch W. Indies; ETO 1944-45; Dep. Operations Hdqrs. 9th AF, Greenville AFB, S.C.; Chief, Combat Training Branch, TUSAFG, Ankara, Turkey; Chief, Air Training Division, USAF FM Group, Ankara, Turkey; Chief, TACair Br, Commands Div., Dep, Chief Staff Operations, Hdqrs. USAF; Dep. Chief Operations Plans Div., Hdqrs. USAF; Wing Comdr. Hdqrs. 461st Bomb Wing, Hill AFB, Utah; Wing Comdr., Blythville AFB. Ark.; Dep. For Operations 9th Air Forces, Shaw AFB, S.C.; Comdr. 41st Air Div., Johnson Air Sta., Japan; 6100 Support Wing, Tachikawa, Air Base, Japan; Dep. Chief Staff Material Hdqrs., Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, Colo. Retired from the USAF in 1969 with 30 years service. Decorated D.S.M., Legion of Merit, D.F.C., Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Croix de Guerre France and Belgium, Member of Order of Daedalions. General Ford is survived by his son, Thomas R. Ford, Jr.; daughters, Jackie Ford Romer and Bobbi Ford; and a sister, Mrs. Marjorie Bennett.