Matthew Thomas Venson Ford, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas. Mr. Ford was born February 11, 1933 at Cash, Arkansas, the son of John Henry & Clara Belle Gill Ford. A resident of Wichita County, Kansas since 1953 moving from Sharon Springs, Kansas, he was a farmer and rancher.
Mr. Ford was a member of Parks Presbyterian Church, the Wichita County Amusement Association, the Wichita County Historical Society and the Leoti Gun Club, all of Wichita County and Leoti, Kansas.
On May 27, 1951 he married Kathryn L. Gittinger at Sharon Springs, Kansas. Kathryn passed away on July 15, 2010 at Wichita, Kansas.
Mr. Ford's surviving family includes-
Six children-
Darlene Joanne Harkness- Leoti, Kansas
Marlene Joy Ribbing- Leoti, Kansas
Matthew Randall Ford- Juniata, Nebraska
Kristine Kay Bollinger- Scott City, Kansas
Kathleen Lynn Long- Leoti, Kansas
Michael Allen Ford- Dallas, Texas
Two sisters-
Helen M Culver- Memphis, Tennessee
Elizabeth Morgan- Gillette, Arkansas
Eleven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren
A son, Richard Thomas Ford, his parents, three brothers and two sisters, preceded him in death.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am ( CDT) Friday, May 4, 2012 at Parks Presbyterian Church in rural Wichita County, Kansas with the Reverend Paul McNall officiating.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm (MDT) will be in Sharon Springs Township Cemetery in Sharon Springs, Kansas.
Friends may call 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday and from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.
Memorials may be given to Parks Presbyterian Church, Wichita County Long Term Care or the Museum of the Great Plains in care of the funeral home.