Thomas Earle Ford's Obituary
Thomas Earle Ford (Tommy) was born on June 8, 1938, in Vernon, Texas to Earle Lee Ford and Mary Tom Lamar Ford. He married the love of his life, Linda Fouts Ford in 1959 and God blessed them with a beautiful 66-year marriage, 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Tommy and Linda moved their family to Amarillo, Texas in 1969 where they built a successful construction business. Tommy served as president of the Texas Panhandle Builders Association in 1988. They moved to Dallas in 1989, and Tommy built homes for some of the city’s most distinguished residents. He served as a Life Director for the Dallas Builders Association (DBA), the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) and the National Association of Home Builders. He received numerous awards for his excellence and his generosity. Awards include the Hugh Prather award, the highest honor from the DBA, the Ron Connally Award of Excellence from the TBF, the Ted Schlossman Lifetime Achievement Award from the TAB, and the Philanthropist of the Year award from the TAB. Tommy was also a founding member and director of the Texas Builders Foundation (TBF) which provides scholarships to students who are pursuing careers as residential construction trades professionals.
While he loved and excelled at his construction career, his true passion was his faith and his family. Tommy and Linda lived a life of service to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ by serving in many capacities at the churches they attended as well as other ministries they supported. They also spent much of their spare time attending their grandchildren’s activities and entertaining family and friends at their lake house. Tommy was an avid fisherman and enjoyed traveling with his wife and their friends.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother John Ford. He is survived by his wife, Linda, son Corey Ford (Becky), daughter Jana McAllister (Russell), daughter Amy Pennington (Kurt), sister Berta Gentry, his grandchildren and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Texas Builders Foundation Texas Builders Foundation or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation North Texas Chapter. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation North Texas Chapter.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 24th at 1:00 pm at Northwest Bible Church, 8505 Douglas Avenue, Dallas, TX 75225.
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