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Mrs. Elizabeth Ford, 1923-2022
Avril's mom! A courageous Glaslow lass who did her part in the Blitz.

 

UPCOMING SERVICE

 

Celebration Of Life
Oct. 13, 2022
2:00 p.m.
Wilshire Avenue Community Church
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ELIZABETH FORD OBITUARY

1923 - 2022 Elizabeth McLellan Reid Ford, affectionately known as Betty, passed away peacefully in her home on August 26 at the ripe old age of 99. Betty was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1923 to Thomas and Elizabeth Young. She had one sibling, Thomas. She grew up in the same neighborhood as her future husband, Charles Ford. Shortly after high school, at the onset of WWII, Betty enlisted in the Wrens (Women's Royal Naval Service) where she served as a telephonist in the tunnels beneath London during the Battle of Britain. Following the war, Betty and Charles, a naval pilot, wed and began a family. In 1953, the couple with their three children emigrated to New York aboard the RMS Sythia. They lived in New York for five years, enjoying yearly month-long camping vacations in Nova Scotia before traveling to Fullerton, California in their DeSoto with their now four children. They rented a house on Oak Avenue for about a year before buying the house next door the shortest flitting ever! The couple had their fifth child here and spent the rest of their lives in this home. Charles passed away about 10 years ago and Betty lived independently in the same home until just before her death. Betty kept herself busy throughout her life. She was very active in the PTA, Little League, Pop Warner, and Highland Dancing Association just to mention a few of her activities. When all of her children were grown, she went to work for TRW for several years. She always loved the outdoors and her camping and fishing activities extended into her old age. She also enjoyed frequent getaways to Vegas, but the favorite activity of her life was dancing, at which she was an expert. In her later years, she loved going to water aerobics at the YMCA and balance classes at the senior center. She was religious about attending her fitness classes and called them "her work". As a matter of fact, until about a month before her death, she would drive herself to the senior center twice a week for exercise class. She cherished the friends she met through these classes. Betty was a very kind, honest, and straightforward person. She was not shy about voicing her opinions and was eager to stand up for what she felt was morally right; a true lady. Betty is survived by her five children: Avril, Lesley, Scott, Ian and Bonnie, six grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life is planned at Wilshire Avenue Community Church in Fullerton at 2 pm on October 13, 2022.

 

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PAUL SAEVIG, '67 on October 7, 2022 at 8:49 AM said:

I REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER, AVRIL. SUCH A PRETTY, NEAT AND TIDY, REFINED LADY. I HAD NO IDEA OF HER HEROIC PAST AND THE YEARS OF MORTAL DANGER SHE ENDURED. IT WAS PEOPLE LIKE MRS. FORD WHO THROUGH THEIR STRENGTH, CHARACTER, BRAVERY AND STEADFAST RESOLVE SURVIVED THE DARKEST HOUR OF HITLER'S ASSAULT ON GREAT BRITAIN AND WESERN CIVILIZATION ITSELF, WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE MRS. FORD TO THANK FOR OUR LIVES AND FREEDOMS,AND SHE WAS HARDLY MORE THAN A GIRL THEN, TOO.
NOW I SEE WHERE YOU GOT YOUR COURAGE AVRIL, AND YOUR WONDERFUL BOLD SPIRIT AND JOIE DE VIVRE.
I BOW LOW WITH GREATEST RESPECT, GRATIUDE ABD AFFECTION FOR MRS FORD.-- LOVE, PAUL

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