Senator Wendell H. Ford

Retired United States Senator Wendell H. Ford, 90, of Owensboro passed away peacefully Thursday, January 22, 2015 at his home. He was born in Owensboro September 8th, 1924, a son of the late Ernest M. and Irene Schenk Ford. The summer following his graduation from Daviess County High School in 1942, while working at J.C. Penny's, he met his future bride and love of his life Ruby Jean Neel. They were married September 18th, 1942 and moved to his family farm in Thruston. Senator Ford was a member and deacon of First Baptist church.

Senator Ford served in the United States Army at Ft. Hood Texas from 1944 until 1946. Returning to Owensboro, he joined his father's insurance business. He also joined the Jaycee's, serving first as local president, then state president and in 1956 as Kentucky's first national president. He went on to become international vice-president before returning to Owensboro. He joined the administration of Governor Bert Combs as administrative assistant to the governor, serving from 1959 until 1961. He was elected State Senator in 1965, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1967, Governor of Kentucky in 1971, and to the United State Senate in 1974, where he served for 24 years.

He taught all of us that government service was a privilege and an honor given by the people. Wendell Ford loved to do things for others and brought that spirit to his government service. Just as much, he loved to go fishing with his grandkids and great-grandkids, watching a ball game with them, and just being around them.

Senator Ford is survived by his wife Jean, his children Shirley Dexter and her husband Bill, and Steven M. Ford and his wife Sarah; Shirley's children Emily Anne Pendleton and her husband Reed and Betsy Dexter, and Steve's children Wendell Clay H. Ford and his wife Diane, Steven Neel Ford and his wife Sarah, and Morgan Ratliff Ford; his great-grandchildren Whitley Hampton Ford, Wendell John Clay Ford, Sutton Elizabeth Ford, and Wynn Williams Ford; his sister Betty J. Sharpe and his brother, Reyburn W. Ford and his wife Dot.

A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort where Senator Ford will lie in state from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Sunday.

The funeral service for Senator Ford will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church, Owensboro. Visitation will be at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory in Owensboro from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday and after 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the church. A private service of committal will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the charity of one's choice or the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center.