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Donald L. ‘Don' Ford, age 61, passed away Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2019 at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin. He was a resident of Nashville.
Don was born July 13, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio to his parents, Denzil L. and Ruby A. (Gillespie) Ford. He was a 1975 graduate of Brown County High School and went on to serve with the United States Navy from 1975 to 1981. While in the service, he worked as a translator speaking both Italian and Spanish fluently. Don also worked as Chef while serving in the Navy and had the opportunity of baking and presenting a cherry pie to President Gerald Ford.
After the service, Don attended culinary school and worked as a Chef in Italy for a couple years. He retired in 2010 from Head of Security for the Indianapolis Star after ten years of service. While working at the Indy Star, he had the opportunity to meet many famous people such as President Obama, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and actor & singer Jim Nabors.
Don's true passion was playing and writing music. He enjoyed getting to know and play with other musicians. Don was the owner and operator of Frog Magik Music where he was a one man band that could play just about any instrument. He used his musical talent to help raise money for many local charities around central Indiana. Don especially enjoyed raising money for children's activities and cancer research.
Don enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden and working in his yard. He was a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his mother, Ruby A. Ford of Nashville; daughter, Melissa Faina Mechur of Vicenza, Italy; siblings, Deborah Shearer and Michael Ford, both of Franklin and David Ford of Nashville; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his father, Denzil L. Ford on April 13, 2016.
The Rev. Burt Brock will conduct a funeral service at noon on Friday at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center, 179 E. Mulberry Street in Morgantown. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Nineveh Cemetery with military honors presented by the Brown County Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Don to the American Cancer Association, 5635 W. 96th St. Ste. 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278 or any local school's free lunch program.
Condolences may be made to the Ford family at www.meredith-clark.com. Info. 812-597-4670
Date: Friday, July 5, 2019
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Date: Friday, July 5, 2019
Time: 12:00 pm
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. Donald "Don" L. Ford, please visit our floral store.