Obituary of Dolores Mariam Ford

Dolores Mariam Ford, age 88 of Leonardville, Kansas passed away Monday, October 29, 2012 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. She was born on December 8, 1923 on the family farm southwest of Leonardville, Kansas, the daughter of John Rudolph and Louisa (Coltharp) Bletscher. She attended Union Country Grade School and graduated from Leonardville Rural High School in 1942. Dolores taught several years in various area country schools and worked as secretary / clerk at the Leonardville Farmer’s Union Store where she met Warren while making store deposits at the Leonardville State Bank. On October 11, 1951 she married Warren Maxwell Ford at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Leonardville. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Dolores was a loving wife and mother. She was a member of the Leonardville United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Leonardville Homemaker’s Club and Leonardville Senior Citizens. She especially enjoyed her participation in the weekly sing-alongs at the Leonardville Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her son Alan Ford and two brothers, Warren and Dennis Bletscher. She is survived by her husband Warren of the home; daughter Beth Ratcliffe and husband Frederick of New York, New York; son Stephen Ford, wife Tammy and their son Chase of Norwich, Kansas; Alan’s wife Kathy Ford and children, Spencer and Haley, of Topeka, Kansas; brother Merton Bletscher and wife Shirley of Clay Center, Kansas. Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Leonardville United Methodist Church with Rev. Deborah A. Hanes-Nelson officiating. Music was furnished by Barbara Lee. Pallbearers were Stephen Ford, Frederick Ratcliffe, Gary Sylvester, Warren Sylvester, Ed Johnson and Arlan Bohnenblust. Burial was in the Leonardville Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Leonardville United Methodist Church and Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Holmes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.