Eugene R. Ford
Aug. 22, 1926 – Nov. 29, 2015

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Eugene passed peacefully in the evening of Nov. 29, surrounded by family.

Born in Hayward, Calif., he was orphaned by age 5. He spent the next 12 years in several foster homes.

At age 17 he came to Kelseyville with his foster family. He loved it here and wanted to stay, becoming one of the “Patton Boys” at Cliff and Mae Patton’s foster home.

He attended Kelseyville High School where he ran track and played basketball. He graduated with five other classmates in 1945.

He started working at an early age as a paperboy in Hayward. After moving to Kelseyville, he worked various jobs, from tending to pear and walnut orchards to milking cows at the dairy. He was known for his rototilling. He rototilled many orchards and gardens around the Kelseyville area. The family still has his original rototiller. He also worked on family and friends cars.

He married Maxine Mullen in 1948. They were married for 53 years until her passing in 2001.

In 1952 he got a job at Masonite Corp. in Ukiah as a grader and still continued to work on cars on the side for many years. He retired in 1988 from Masonite Corp. He and Maxine made two trips to Alaska, and he was the president of Clearlake Gleaner’s for several years.

He is survived by his children, Danny Ford, Linda Ford Breeding, Denise Wiltse (Mike), Deborah Ford-Reed and Jennifer Ford Taylor. He was an influential part of life with his nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, and also the daughters of his heart, Sammie Jane Barton and Sharon Ford Harvey. 

Graveside services will be at Kelseyville Cemetery Dec. 9 at noon. Afterwards there will be a gathering of friends and family at Kelseyville Methodist Church, located at First and Main Street. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice Services of Lake County.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary www.jonesmortuary.com FD311, Lakeport.