Darlene I. Ford, 95, of Millersville, passed away October 19, 2016 after a fruitful life. She cherished her life even though her family, mother, and father Goldie and Oliver McGahuey and three siblings, Rita Cumpston, Maxine Payton and brother Don (all deceased) were faced with hard times during the depression years. Born April 6, 1921, on a farm in southern Iowa, Darlene had to be a trailblazer of her generation to overcome the poverty that existed all around the family.
She was a teacher, her dream, in an Iowa rural school from 1939-1942. After having worked in a defense plant during WWII and 2 ½ years serving her country as a Yeoman 3rd Class with the U.S. Coast Guard Spar (1943-45), she married Robert N. Ford on June 12, 1945.
Robert also was a teacher who had weathered the depression. The devoted couple never stopped striving for more higher education until Robert had completed a Ph. D degree from the University of Chicago and Darlene a Masters in Education from Temple University.
After several moves during their marriage from New York to Iowa, Chicago, and Miami where Robert taught at the young University of Miami and Darlene at Miami Senior High School, they chose Millersville, PA as their final home where Robert retired from Millersville University in 1985. Darlene retired from the Penn Manor School District in 1981.
Darlene was always active in the community, especially at the university where she established endowments to help students, saw that a needed atrium became a reality in McComsey Hall, always supported the Fine Arts Programs at both the Ware and Winter Centers. She was a member of the Blue Mt. Military Women serving as secretary for many years, a member of MU Campus Club since 1957 having served both as president and treasurer. She spearheaded a drive to establish a large Campus Club Endowment which provides financial help to three worthy students, and she was a loyal member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Millersville where she sang in the choir besides being on the greeter committee for many years.
Although Robert and Darlene had no children, from their early life to elderly years, they were always helpful to financially unfortunate children. After Robert's death in 1996, Darlene became a surrogate mother to Mery Soto Pumil from Lima, Peru in 2001. She is considered her adopted daughter along with Mery's husband Duane Harner and their two daughters, Maya and Megan. In addition to Mery, she still has many living descendents – nieces and nephews throughout the U.S.A.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM in honor of Darlene on October 23, 2016 at the McComsey Hall in the Ford Atrium of Millersville University with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be sent to Campus Club Endowment, Millersville University.
To place a condolence online, please visit:www.snyderfuneralhome.com
(LNP 21/2016)
She was a teacher, her dream, in an Iowa rural school from 1939-1942. After having worked in a defense plant during WWII and 2 ½ years serving her country as a Yeoman 3rd Class with the U.S. Coast Guard Spar (1943-45), she married Robert N. Ford on June 12, 1945.
Robert also was a teacher who had weathered the depression. The devoted couple never stopped striving for more higher education until Robert had completed a Ph. D degree from the University of Chicago and Darlene a Masters in Education from Temple University.
After several moves during their marriage from New York to Iowa, Chicago, and Miami where Robert taught at the young University of Miami and Darlene at Miami Senior High School, they chose Millersville, PA as their final home where Robert retired from Millersville University in 1985. Darlene retired from the Penn Manor School District in 1981.
Darlene was always active in the community, especially at the university where she established endowments to help students, saw that a needed atrium became a reality in McComsey Hall, always supported the Fine Arts Programs at both the Ware and Winter Centers. She was a member of the Blue Mt. Military Women serving as secretary for many years, a member of MU Campus Club since 1957 having served both as president and treasurer. She spearheaded a drive to establish a large Campus Club Endowment which provides financial help to three worthy students, and she was a loyal member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Millersville where she sang in the choir besides being on the greeter committee for many years.
Although Robert and Darlene had no children, from their early life to elderly years, they were always helpful to financially unfortunate children. After Robert's death in 1996, Darlene became a surrogate mother to Mery Soto Pumil from Lima, Peru in 2001. She is considered her adopted daughter along with Mery's husband Duane Harner and their two daughters, Maya and Megan. In addition to Mery, she still has many living descendents – nieces and nephews throughout the U.S.A.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM in honor of Darlene on October 23, 2016 at the McComsey Hall in the Ford Atrium of Millersville University with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be sent to Campus Club Endowment, Millersville University.
To place a condolence online, please visit:www.snyderfuneralhome.com
(LNP 21/2016)
Darlene I. Ford, 95, of Millersville, passed away October 19, 2016 after a fruitful life. She cherished her life even though her family, mother, and father Goldie and Oliver McGahuey and three siblings, Rita Cumpston, Maxine Payton and brother Don (all deceased) were faced with hard times during the depression years. Born April 6, 1921, on a farm in southern Iowa, Darlene had to be a trailblazer of her generation to overcome the poverty that existed all around the family.
She was a teacher, her dream, in an Iowa rural school from 1939-1942. After having worked in a defense plant during WWII and 2 ½ years serving her country as a Yeoman 3rd Class with the U.S. Coast Guard Spar (1943-45), she married Robert N. Ford on June 12, 1945.
Robert also was a teacher who had weathered the depression. The devoted couple never stopped striving for more higher education until Robert had completed a Ph. D degree from the University of Chicago and Darlene a Masters in Education from Temple University.
After several moves during their marriage from New York to Iowa, Chicago, and Miami where Robert taught at the young University of Miami and Darlene at Miami Senior High School, they chose Millersville, PA as their final home where Robert retired from Millersville University in 1985. Darlene retired from the Penn Manor School District in 1981.
Darlene was always active in the community, especially at the university where she established endowments to help students, saw that a needed atrium became a reality in McComsey Hall, always supported the Fine Arts Programs at both the Ware and Winter Centers. She was a member of the Blue Mt. Military Women serving as secretary for many years, a member of MU Campus Club since 1957 having served both as president and treasurer. She spearheaded a drive to establish a large Campus Club Endowment which provides financial help to three worthy students, and she was a loyal member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Millersville where she sang in the choir besides being on the greeter committee for many years.
Although Robert and Darlene had no children, from their early life to elderly years, they were always helpful to financially unfortunate children. After Robert's death in 1996, Darlene became a surrogate mother to Mery Soto Pumil from Lima, Peru in 2001. She is considered her adopted daughter along with Mery's husband Duane Harner and their two daughters, Maya and Megan. In addition to Mery, she still has many living descendents – nieces and nephews throughout the U.S.A.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM in honor of Darlene on October 23, 2016 at the McComsey Hall in the Ford Atrium of Millersville University with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be sent to Campus Club Endowment, Millersville University.
To place a condolence online, please visit:www.snyderfuneralhome.com
(LNP 21/2016)
She was a teacher, her dream, in an Iowa rural school from 1939-1942. After having worked in a defense plant during WWII and 2 ½ years serving her country as a Yeoman 3rd Class with the U.S. Coast Guard Spar (1943-45), she married Robert N. Ford on June 12, 1945.
Robert also was a teacher who had weathered the depression. The devoted couple never stopped striving for more higher education until Robert had completed a Ph. D degree from the University of Chicago and Darlene a Masters in Education from Temple University.
After several moves during their marriage from New York to Iowa, Chicago, and Miami where Robert taught at the young University of Miami and Darlene at Miami Senior High School, they chose Millersville, PA as their final home where Robert retired from Millersville University in 1985. Darlene retired from the Penn Manor School District in 1981.
Darlene was always active in the community, especially at the university where she established endowments to help students, saw that a needed atrium became a reality in McComsey Hall, always supported the Fine Arts Programs at both the Ware and Winter Centers. She was a member of the Blue Mt. Military Women serving as secretary for many years, a member of MU Campus Club since 1957 having served both as president and treasurer. She spearheaded a drive to establish a large Campus Club Endowment which provides financial help to three worthy students, and she was a loyal member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Millersville where she sang in the choir besides being on the greeter committee for many years.
Although Robert and Darlene had no children, from their early life to elderly years, they were always helpful to financially unfortunate children. After Robert's death in 1996, Darlene became a surrogate mother to Mery Soto Pumil from Lima, Peru in 2001. She is considered her adopted daughter along with Mery's husband Duane Harner and their two daughters, Maya and Megan. In addition to Mery, she still has many living descendents – nieces and nephews throughout the U.S.A.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM in honor of Darlene on October 23, 2016 at the McComsey Hall in the Ford Atrium of Millersville University with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be sent to Campus Club Endowment, Millersville University.
To place a condolence online, please visit:www.snyderfuneralhome.com
(LNP 21/2016)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
