Reverend Robert D. Ford

Reverend Robert D. (Bob) Ford Bob Ford, 79, died June 2, 2013 in Abilene. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Rev. Ted Dotts, Rev. Bobby McMillan and Dr. Eduardo Rivera officiating, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene. Bob was born on March 31, 1934, in Amarillo, Texas, to Rual and Mae Heath Ford. He graduated from Lubbock High School in 1952. He received his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University in 1956, and went on to attend Vanderbilt University where he completed his seminary education in 1959. He returned to Texas and joined the Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1959 he was appointed to be Associate Pastor at San Jacinto United Methodist Church in Amarillo. There he met Libby Lynch and they were married on September 8, 1961. They were married for 51 years until her death in January of this year. Bob’s ministry took them all over the Northwest Texas Conference: Amarillo, Wylie, Abilene, Rotan, Post, Big Spring, Colorado City, Midland, Andrews, Snyder, Canyon and finally Aldersgate in Abilene. Bob retired from active ministry in 1997. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and wife. He is survived by daughter, Diane Taylor and her husband Joe of Abilene; daughter, Sarah Wilson and her husband Brian of Amarillo; three grandchildren, Jake and Grace Taylor and Madeline Wilson; one brother, Max Ford of Odessa; several cousins, nieces and nephews. How do you sum up his life in a few words? Bob loved God, life and his family. He had a big heart and an even bigger laugh. Memorials may be made to United Methodist Service Center and Food Pantry, P.O. Box 863, Abilene, TX, 79604.