ALBANY – Margaret Ford passed away peacefully on May 18, 2010, at Albany Health Care at the age of 96. Margaret had been a resident there since May of 2006 where she received the best of care by the entire staff & hospice care givers.
Margaret was born in the family home to William & Elizabeth Barrie of Redkey on May 4, 1913. She attended Redkey schools & graduated from Dunkirk H.S. Margaret married Rill K. Ford of Redkey on August 1, 1936, who preceded her in death in 1997. As newlyweds they set up housekeeping in Redkey; while living there she worked at what was then known as Armstrong Cork & Glass in Dunkirk. They moved to Albany in the late 1930's when her husband became the Standard Oil agent with her as the bookkeeper. Later on, during WWII, they owned & operated the Ford Market in downtown Albany. In the early 1950's the Fords started the Albany Liquor Store on East State Street. The late 1950's saw the Fords living South of Albany on the "mile square", along the Nickel Plate Railroad. Margaret served banquet dinners in the large family home. The 1960's brought a kennel of registered smooth-haired fox terriers, which she shipped all over the country through Spiegles catalog. In later years she volunteered at the UMC Retail Shop in Albany. The Fords also owned & operated the Hartford Sawmill in Hartford City for many years.
Those of Albany who walked the "mile square" will remember Rill & Margaret for their generous smiles & waves, as well as the beautiful red geraniums which occupied the dog kennel windows for years. Also the Fords will be remembered for the peacock population that occupied the farm for over 50 years. Many children took home peacock feathers which she gladly shared every summer. Margaret was a member of Albany United Methodist Church, Order of The Eastern Star, and Tri Kappa sorority for many years.
Margaret is survived by a daughter: Krista (Kris) Ford, Muncie; a son: Rill E. Ford (wife: Drinda), Hartford City; a granddaughter: Tamara Sue, Fairfield, OH; a grandson: Scott Wright, Terre Haute, several great-grandchildren, and several nieces & nephews. Besides her husband she is preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters.
Services will be conducted at 1p.m. on Saturday May 22, 2010, at Meacham Funeral Service, Albany, with burial following at Hill Crest Cemetery, Redkey. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 5-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be sent to Albany EMS or New Hope Hospice.