PVT William Franklin Ford

PVT William F Ford

The following is a transcription from his obituary that was clipped from a newspaper and contained in a hand written genealogy compiled by his wife, Florine. There is no date or mention of the newspaper.

Pvt. William F. Ford Dies While German Prisoner

Eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Clee Ford. Reported Missing Since June 27, Dies July 20 Red Cross Reports Pvt. William F. Ford, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Clee Ford, died as a result of wound July 20 according to word received from the Germans through the Red Cross.

The message was delivered to his wife in Wichita, August 17. A telegram from the War Department July 29 had reported Pvt. Ford missing in action since June 27.

Mr. and Mrs. Clee Ford went to Wichita to be with their daughter-in-law as soon as word was received. They brought her to the Hillsboro hospital Sunday where she remains suffering from nervous shock.

Pvt. Ford, who was born August 24, 1914, on a farm east of Lincolnville, moved with this parents when four years of age to a farm west of Aulne where the family made its home until 1934. They now lived miles northeast of Marion. Pvt. Ford attended the New Hope school and Marion High School for one year. After that he worked on the city delivery wagon, for several years at the Home Oil Station and for a time as a driver for Abe Reh’s Trucking Service. For a time prior to his enlistment he was with the Security Oil Company in Wichita.

He was married August 15, 1937 to Florine Rains of Fairfield, Iowa, at his parent’s home. They have no children.

On October 13, 1943, he was inducted into military service and entered training in the infantry at Camp Wolters, Texas. In March of this year he went overseas to be first in Ireland, then transferred to England. Mrs. Ford received a letter dated June 21 saying he was in France. Another written June 25 was the last received from him.

Pvt. Ford was a member of the Bethel Methodist church of Wichita.

Survivors include his wife, his parents, six brothers and sisters, Delphas and Jerome of Marion, Mrs. Boyd Linnens and Miss Fern Ford of Lincolnville, Elizabeth Ann of the home, and Pvt. Leslie Ford of Ft. McClellan, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Blankley and Mrs. Martha Ford are his grandparents.

PVT Ford was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  According to the morning report he was wounded, captured and died on 27 Jun 1944.   He rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.