John P. Ford of Doylestown, PA, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Joseph and Natalie (McCann) Ford, John lived in Doylestown for the past 44 years and spent the winters in Englewood, FL, for the past 11 years.
He received a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Delaware and was employed as a College Professor and Counselor at Bucks County Community College of Newtown, PA, for 27 years, retiring in 1999. John was also a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church of Doylestown.
Earlier in his life, John had been a Vincentian priest, serving for over a decade in Panama and Philadelphia. This unique experience helped to make him a wise teacher and counselor, a free thinker, an accepting friend, a devoted father, and a passionate husband. He enjoyed reading, opera, tennis, his favorite Philly teams, traveling, and relaxing at the Jersey shore and the beaches of Ocracoke Island, NC. John’s strength and dignity in dealing with physical disabilities during his later years were an inspiration to many.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Joann M. Ford (née Gabel); his children, Peter (Mya) Zavaleta Ford, Robert (Ansley) Ford, and Natalie (Héctor) Mera Ford; his sister Constance Hanna; his brother, the late Joseph Ford; and his grandchildren Diego, Matias, Rose, John Daniel, and Samuel “Jaime.”
A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 235 East State Street, Doylestown, PA, 18901, on Saturday, February 18th at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive their friends between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. prior to mass at the church.
Cremation was private under the direction of the Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home, 344 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA, 18901.
Memorial gifts to WHYY (PBS), Independence Mall West, 150 North 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106 or www.whyy.org would be appreciated.
Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com
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